Flag ripped down at soldier's home

Fox 13 ^ | Monday, 28 May 2007, | Fox 13

[Fawn]

TAMPA - Infantryman Brandon Davis left the Florida Army National Guard with his uniform, a lot of pride in his country, and a band of friends who are more like brothers.

"I have brothers there who are losing their lives every day, you know I spent some time in the Army, it just means a lot to me. It's Memorial Day," Davis said in an interview Monday.

Naturally, he decided to really honor the U.S.A. this Memorial Day. So, the 23-year-old hung a little flag outside his door.

"You know, it's a hand flag," Davis explained. "20 minutes later, the flag is gone. So I'm trying to figure out where my flag went, I go down to the security shack, and the security guard, he has my flag."

"They were very hostile and I tried to approach them in a nice way, but they weren't working with me at all," Davis continued. "They didn't want to give me back my flag."

He said he did get it back, and he put it up again. Later, though, he described what he claims he came home to: the flag tossed to the ground, broken in two. And two fines on his door from Parkcrest Condominiums for hanging the flag out twice.

"I was furious. There's no way to explain it," Davis said. "I don't know what's going on. It's Memorial Day and we're at war, there's just no respect."

Davis said he understood he's not technically allowed to put anything outside his door. He pays $550 each month to the Homeowners Association at the Harbour Island building. 

The condo board has specifically ruled against decorations.

But as a soldier on Memorial Day, he's stunned that building bylaw applies to the American flag, too.

"The flag is a very serious thing. People are losing their lives over it," Davis fumed.

Our nation's code of honor dictates certain protocol in disposing of old, dirtied, or broken flags. One should not throw them away in the garbage can. Rather, they are traditionally burned out of respect.

So, Monday night, the Army National Guardsman spent his evening doing just that - burning his broken American flag.

Davis said the Parkcrest building's management office was closed for the Memorial Day holiday, as is customary with most offices. 

He, nor FOX 13, could reach them by phone for further explanation from the building about the flag flap.

[Southerngl]

If you happen to come across another old girl, please contact me. I’ll pay for the shipping.
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Ok, will do! I don’t think they were doing anything wrong, just disposing of a downed, ‘ruined’ flag in the proper way. Still better than tossing it in the trash!

[oneamericanvoice]

“Ok, will do! I don’t think they were doing anything wrong, just disposing of a downed, ‘ruined’ flag in the proper way. Still better than tossing it in the trash!”

My point was that I understand that the manner that it was disposed of was something that everyone has come to recognize as the acceptable method. However, I question the validity of the method. Who says it has to be that way? Why? Please read my reasoning again. Placing it in the trash is NEVER an option. But I don’t think burning her is correct either.

Thanks for taking care of her! You’re a heck of a gal!