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.
I do apologize to you.
Thank you, glad you didn’t shoot me ..ha!
I've screwed up like that once or twice **, so I try to define "intent" before I open up with both barrels.
**(Trust me on this - you'll toss and turn tonight, and hate it when you log on in the morning and see that 'red light'...)
“...Homeowners Association ....”
— —
Enough said.
EVERY single HOA eventually winds up controlled by petty little nazi control freaks; typical libs with no brains, big mouth, bad attitude and a chip on their shoulder for every person in the neighborhood.
Pay heed.
I am just glad I am not full of holes..or set on fire, and got a chance to explain.
The association will not allow an American flag, but how much would you like to bet that they would allow a rainbow flag?
Such is the life of a hardcore FReeper...it can suck sometimes. I'd get 'em for days at a time, and then some newbie would sign up, find a six month old thread and the sh*t would get bumped all over again....sigh
Thanks for the advice. I am not afraid. :-)
I suspect they will get plenty....:-)
I bet the nose twitching is what does it...
That HOA is again a great example of freaks needing to be tossed out into the streets...
At rush hour...
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.
Pretty much says it all if you ask me. Why people belong to Homeowner’s association is beyond me. But even worse once they are members and pay a monthly due they don’t want to follow the rules they signed up for. Dumb on many levels.
But I’m willing to bet the rules don’t specify American flags or Christmas trees.
And look! The board already backtracked on the flags.
I think Brandon’s buddies should pay Mr Security Guard (the one who stole the flag twice and broke it) a visit and instruct him on the proper etiquette on displaying the flag.
You forgot that most people don’t read the article. Takes too much time. Read the brief synopsis and start typing away.
Wait a minute.....if you lived in an Association that didn’t allow trucks and boats and old cars on blocks in their driveways, would you be upset if your next door neighbor broke the rules constantly? You’d be ok staring at a boat on a ramp out your window? Would you be ok with a neighbor who puts out all their lawn furniture, dogs on ropes and barbecue and left it on common ground right outside your window 24-7— when they aren’t supposed to? Would you like to live next to someone who’s dogs poops on common ground right next to your door and never picks it up? Don’t tell me you would never live there....let’s say you have to live there.
Touch my flag watch out for your fingers. You touch my flag you better start counting to see if your fingers match your toes.I don’t destroy your property do not destroy mine.
You're right. My brother lives in one of those "exclusive" neighborhoods; it's almost impossible to find an area of newer housing... without the HOA's in control anymore. After everything he's been through with trying to replace a damaged entry door and replacing sod in the front yard....(they have to approve the colors and set hours the yardmen can operate) I can't imagine EVER wanting to live in that type of atmosphere. It reminds me of busybody snoops who take great glee in micro-managing everyone else's lives.... but their own.
What would it take to enact legislation that United States flags are excempt from municipal, condo, local and community regulations concerning the display of decorations.
We're seizing control of the HOA in my neighborhood - most of the real control freaks have been worn down, so those of us who don't give a rat's are getting onto the Board so that we can do as little as possible. Unfortunately, we can't just let the damn thing lapse or the management company gets to take over.
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