Posted on 05/27/2008 6:54:11 AM PDT by peggybac
CLERMONT, Fla. -- A Central Florida war veteran faces a lawsuit for flying the American flag in his front yard.
"I don't understand why it would bring down the values of our homes by flying the American flag from a pole in my front yard," homeowner Jimmie Watkins said.
Watkins and his wife, Ria, received a final notices from the Sussex homeowners' association in Clermont that they must remove the flag or else face legal action.
The former retired U.S. Navy communications officer said he refuses to back down for the American flag.
"Our people are serving today to give us freedom," Watkins said. "To do as we like here within the law of America. It is my right to fly my flag from my pole and until a court of law tells me to haul that down. I will not haul it down. I think about all of the people who have served our nation and all of the lives that it's costs and all of the friends that I've lost."
Local 6 reported that all surrounding subdivisions in Kings Ridge allow a flag pole display in a person's front yard.
Jim Hart, who handles property management for 1,500 properties, including Sussex, said it is the association's call and not his.
"Each sub-association has its own set of documents and they can differ," Hart said. "The rationale for that only exists within the minds of the folks that are doing it. I can't sit here and tell you why."
The homeowner's association is not commenting about their rules. But state law said anyone can display a flag in a "respectful manner" as long as it is removable, Local 6 reported.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
The Constitution trumps ALL Civil Law. Any Civil Law that violates the Constitution is non-enforceable.
go retired vet...hold your ground......!!!!
ALL HOA’s are Nazi-like.
You can do better than that. :-)
Didn’t we see a case like this a couple of years ago. I though the feds passed a law that said you could fly a flag.
Da*nYankee liberals moved there -- after they screwed up the Northeast...
The HOA is nothing more than a mafia group.
That was my point.
Fight it, fight it, fight it. Stay on it. Keep it in the public eye and forefront. Don’t back down. If you are legal within the rules...then stand tall and fight it.
But what if you are in fact the moron and need to shut-up? Last time I checked state law trumps an HOA rule, moronsky.
State and Federal Law trump HOA rules. Many older HOA rules forbid sales of the home to persons of non-white race, clearly in violation of Federal and State anti-discrimination laws. It doesn’t matter if the rules were written before the law was passed, these provisions are void.
If what is stated in the article is correct and the man is “respectfully” displaying the flag then it will be interesting to see if the HOA rules over-ride state law.
The display of the flag is not banned; it’s the flag pole. Federal law says you CAN display the American Flag, and this CANNOT be trumped by the HOA. End of discussion.....C
Old, old people, with nothing to do and no one to pay them any attention, will do anything, absolutely anything, just to make a nuisance of themselves.
No way of winning.Unless homeowners didn’t sign agreement(slim chance to none).
In some areas, there is nothing left but HOA’s. Often the facts aren’t disclosed (mine certainly weren’t!)then the HOA board arbitrarily does anything they wish. But no agency oversees these little tyrants or will act to control them.
Sussex homeowners’ association = commissar’s housing directorate.
Please somebody give those folks a life.
What an absolute waste of time for all concerned.
There such not be a restriction of any kind for flying the American Flag.
The association should “allow” American flags on Memorial day, Flag day and Independence day.
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