"Now that's a real intelligent statement."
Posted on 05/29/2007 3:13:02 PM PDT by 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.
Bookmark
"Now that's a real intelligent statement."
Don’t forget, this is a condo. All they own is space.
He still is entitled to fly the flag every day if he so chooses, as is his right under Florida law, regardless of what Pinch has to say about it.
>>Pyburn maintained the citations were issued because the flag was displayed near a light bulb which is a fire hazard.<<
If this “fire hazard” crapola was the real reason for removing the the flag twice (and eventually destroying it), the soldier would have been told so by the security guard from the git-go.
Evidently the condo board not only sets the rules (as one earlier post mentioned), it’s also in charge of concocting CYA-lies.
Thanks.
The security guard needs to get an new job.
I knew it was going to be Florida. Terrorists love Florida. I would NOT live any place where they would tell me I can’t fly the American flag.
Something to the effect of “I find your lack of faith disturbing...” as neck bones start to crackle.
I am currently going to truckdriver school to become a school bus driver. The lead instructor of this class at the college is a Vietnam Veteran. This morning on my way to school I saw a standard issue flag in the road being run over. I pulled over, practically got run over, but picked up the mangled shredded flag. It bothered me so much it was in the road getting run over. I’m sure it just flew off someone’s house, but still. I took the flag into class and asked how to proceed. Being the child of a veteran, I knew I should do SOMETHING to the flag. He made me so proud. He stopped class about 30 minutes early to have a proper flag burning ceremony with all the vets there (several in class and instructors) standing at full attention and saluting. Truckdrivers (all instructors are retired long haulers) may have foul language and be rough around the edges, but they certainly have class if you ask me!
I am calling the realtor who sells at Harbor Island condos.
They are on the Condo website home page.
They would love to see what publicity this got and how no one will want to buy there!
The national Guard Infantryman SHOULD SUE THE CONDO ASSOCIATION FOR MONEY....LOTS OF MONEY!
The condo Board is liable for law suits...half a million should buy him a nice flag!
I would sue just to get the message out!
BTW...has a Freeper let this Infantryman know about his making the Freeper site???
And according to the report, He (only) pays $550 each month to the Homeowners Association for the privilege!
I did watch, he is a very articulate young man. He stood up for himself very well.
Thanks, I just sent them an email.
Wouldn’t you know it, the email address does not work!
The bottom line is -you’re a jerk. You must be a little condo board gestapo too.
The condo likely has a full inbox now ?
Of course, now that I understand the state law. I am on the owner’s side.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.