We hear about it all the time; the Homeowner's Association tells somebody to take down their flagpole, right? Well, here we go again:
Flag Controversy
In December 2009, the HomeOwners' Association (HOA) of Sussex Square, where 90-year-old Van T. Barfoot lives in Henrico County, Virginia, ordered him to remove the flagpole from which he flies the American flag. The HOA retained a lawyer to help enforce their order. The Association's bylaws do not forbid flagpoles, but the HOA ruled Barfoot should not be allowed to use his "for aesthetic reasons". Mr. Barfoot is contesting the order.
OH BY THE WAY here's who they decided to fuck with:
Van T. Barfoot, Colonel, United States Army (Retired) Medal of Honor (for his actions in World War II) Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart. In addition to his service in the Second World War, COL Barfoot went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam.
Barfoot is one of the country's last living World War II veterans who received the Medal of Honor. He also served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War and earned a Purple Heart. He reached the rank of colonel before retiring from the Army. He currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, near his daughter. On October 9, 2009, the portion of Mississippi Highway 16 which runs from Carthage through his hometown of Edinburg to the border between Leake and Neshoba counties was named the "Van T. Barfoot Medal Of Honor Highway".
World War II service:
After enlisting in the Army from Carthage, Mississippi, in 1940 and completing his training, Barfoot served with the 1st Infantry Division in Louisiana and Puerto Rico. In December 1941, he was promoted to sergeant and re-assigned to the Headquarters Amphibious Force Atlantic Fleet in Quantico, Virginia, where he served until the unit was deactivated in 1943. He next joined the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, and was shipped to Europe.
During the Italian Campaign, Barfoot participated in a series of amphibious landings: Sicily, July 1943; mainland Italy at Salerno, September 1943; and Anzio, January 1944. His unit pushed inland from Anzio, and by May 1944 reached the town of Carano where they set up defensive positions. A Technical Sergeant, Barfoot conducted several patrols in the vicinity of Carano to scout the German lines. When his company was ordered to attack on the morning of May 23, Sgt. Barfoot asked for permission to lead a squad. Because of his patrol activity, Sgt. Barfoot knew the terrain and the minefield which lay in front of the German position. He advanced alone through the minefield, following ditches and depressions, until he came within a few yards of a machine gun on the German flank. After taking out the gun with a hand grenade, he entered the German trench and advanced on a second machine gun, killing two soldiers and capturing three others. When he reached a third gun, the entire crew surrendered to him. Others also surrendered; Sgt. Barfoot captured a total of seventeen German soldiers. He had killed 8.
When the Germans launched an armored counterattack later in the day, Barfoot disabled one tank with a bazooka, then advanced into enemy-held territory and destroyed an abandoned German artillery piece. He returned to his own lines and helped two wounded soldiers from his squad to the rear.
Barfoot was subsequently commissioned as a second lieutenant. His division moved into France and by September was serving in the Rhone valley. Barfoot learned he would be awarded the Medal of Honor and chose to have the presentation ceremony in the field, so that his soldiers could attend. He was formally presented with the medal on September 28, 1944, in Épinal, France, by Lieutenant General Alexander Patch.
Colonel Barfoot's Medal of Honor citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.
Click here for the TV news report.
Here's the whole thing on You Tube:
Who are the Communists they have running these HomeOwner's Associations, anyway??? I can't believe this is happening in Virginia, of all places . . .
I love the beautiful flag of this great country, and guys like Colonel Barfoot are part & parcel of everything that is good and worthy in America. We are proud of you, Colonel! Your fight is now OUR fight! This worthless HomeOwners Association has no idea the can of worms they just opened: "Cry Havoc! And Unleash the Dogs of War!!!"
Readers please feel free to email me or comment (below) - I'm looking for support & suggestions how we can lay siege to the mindless idiots at the HomeOwners' Association (HOA) of Sussex Square . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S.L.
If I lived near there I would be honored to participate in a rotating honor guard to watch over this gentleman and his flagpole. Unless we are already on the backside of the Apocalypse I would expect this blogpost to be printed out and placed on bulletin boards around the Pentagon.
ReplyDeleteI wish I lived nearby to help. It would be my honor to shake this man's hand and help him out in any way I could.
ReplyDeleteI suggest a midnight mission using a tractor with a pto auger, a thousand pounds of cement, a 50ft steel flag pole and a holiday sized old glory that beneath flies another flag that states, "Don't tread on me".
I am really getting sick of socialist bullies who are not fit to lick this mans boots telling people they cannot fly our country's flag...
Sorry, guys. I've already fought this one in court. This is a contract law case, not a freedom of speech issue. The man made a contract, just like he did when he won all those medals for bravery and heroism. He honored his contract then. He should do so now. He contracted with a group of people to establish a common set of rules for maintainence of property values and aesthetics. In addition to the HOA bylaws and rules, the Architectural Committee in our HOA reviews all applications for any type of contruction on members properties. The neighbors don't have problems with flags; it's the flagpole. My flag is on my covered porch, lights on it 24/7, with a Blue Star flag on the front door. Patriotism, being a good neighbor, and keeping your bonded word should not be contradictory or cause for hostility. Take down the pole, sir.
ReplyDeletetwolaneflash - are you some kind of frakkin' lawyer? there are too many lawyers as it is. STFU. .... ... and the horse you rode in on. commie ....sucker.
ReplyDeletetwolaneflash, you missed this part: "The Association's bylaws do not forbid flagpoles, but the HOA ruled Barfoot should not be allowed to use his "for aesthetic reasons"."
ReplyDeleteThe HOA is just being assholish. He should NOT take down the pole or flag.
Also, woo-hoo! I was a 45ther of a later generation. Always good to read the history of the unit one more time, especially about our heroes like Col. Barfoot.
Molon Labe.
ReplyDeletesomebody get the HOAs email and we can flood them
ReplyDeleteYou ask who the people are running these places. I would guess they are a bunch that believe their president when he bad mouths your country around the world.
ReplyDeletePost the names, home and email addresses of the HOA, Board of Directors so we can encourage them to turn a blind eye. At ninety years old this issue with the HOA will unfortuneately will fade away, but somehow veterans will not. Lets take a stand.
ReplyDeleteI would like to act civil about this matter. If a Board Member or a member of his family was my employee and I knew about it, well they would probably quit.
If the Board Member or family member worked elsewhere I would make their employer aware and boycott that company if able.
If the bored member was retired I would support a 10,000 veteran march of flags to Sussex Square to salute COL Barefoot's flag.
Support of the Colonel can best come from veterans and achieve media attention like them there liberals of the 1960's! Give the media a peaceful story that let the world know where veterans stand.
Are there any homeowners in Sussex Square that support the Colonel, where are they hiding?
Is this how war veterans who have achieved the highest honour their counrty can bestow are to be treated, this community should be praising this man as a living treasure. If this is how we treat our veterans, then i weep for the future
ReplyDeleteCoates & Davenport should be disbarred for even taking the case...
ReplyDeleteCheck out www.coateslaw.com.
ReplyDeleteThe lawyers are already trying to cover their assets on the home page of their website and probably pulled Warner into it...
frankly i hate the whole idea of a homeowners ass.
ReplyDeleteeven when they don't do something as assinne as this.
put the flag up, in fact get a bigger one sir we have your back.
yochanan
Rohobo, I will meet you on the field of honor anyday, loudmouth. I'm a veteran, with a son in Special Ops. KMA. I have fought this same HOA battle in court at the expense of over $150,000 and lost. The contract will prevail in court. You act like an bunch of ACORN thugs wanting special privileges. Go ahead, just bully the neighborhood into submitting to your wishes, even though you don't live there or pay dues. Again, Rohobo, Kiss My American Free Range Ass.
ReplyDeleteTom, I did not miss the point. An Architectural or Community Aesthetics Committee of an HOA has total and final control over members making changes to the appearance of their properties. There is an application and approval process for requested changes to member's property in the HOA documents, to which each member agrees to adhere when they become members. Colonel Barfoot relinquished his right to pick and choose which rules he would obey when he signed that sales contract. HOA officers are bound by the corporate laws of the state in which the HOA is incorporated. They cannot willy-nilly violate the bylaws and rules without breaking state law. When an HOA member violates the process to which they are contractually bound, the HOA officers are bound by law to pursue the violator and correct the violation, or violate state law themselves. Wrapping the issue in the flag, patriotism, heroism, medals, and glory does not change one bit in my mind and experience that the man should honor his contract with his neighbors, take down his offending pole, and display his flag within the rules of where he chose to live. Generating a firestorm of hate toward the neighborhood, the HOA officers, or anyone who disagrees with this mobbing action is pathological and standard boilerplate for community organizers who extort communities.
ReplyDelete