Henrico Medal of Honor winner, 90, ordered to remove flagpole

Richmond Times Dispatch ^ | 12/02/2009 | Staff Reports

[Restore America]

Col. Van T. Barfoot, one of the country's last-surviving Medal of Honor winners, is under the gun from his Henrico County community's homeowner association. In a five-paragraph letter to Barfoot that he received yesterday, Barfoot is being ordered to remove a flagpole from his yard.

[D Rider]

And, actually, I just did a little homework. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_IV...

The citation reads:"Mark VI tanks", not Mark IV. Mark VI are Tigers, 88mm gun, heavy armor...etc.

[vamoose]

Henrico County had a similar episode a few years back and the Nam vet with a flagpole lost and had to pay $95K in legal fees to the HOA. The issue, the HOA said, was not the flag, but the flagpole. This time the HOA is making the same argument. Unfortunately, it will be very hard for an honored vet to win this case.

[Spike Knotts]

I’m in for either his legal defense fund or for the Thompson fund. I bet he could still make the roaches scatter.

[raybbr]

"Reveille"

A video appropriate to this thread.

[JohnD9207]

Sad...very sad indeed when a flag pole is unsightly.

[ExTexasRedhead]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpYVfHTajOg

Share with others.

[ironwill]

Call and or fax Coates & Davenport, the law firm representing the home owner association.

FLOOD THEM WITH CALLS!!

Coates & Davenport
5206 Markel Road, Suite 200
Richmond VA 23230
Toll Free: (800) 450-8311
Local Phone: (804) 285-7000
General Fax: (804) 285-2849
Real Estate Fax: (804) 285-3426

You can also visit their site and send them a message http://www.coateslaw.com/CM/Custom/Contact.asp.

Interestingly:

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Attorney David Davenport -

The European Arab Higher Arbitration Council

I’m not entirely sure what that is, but I sure don’t like the sound of it.

Please spread this around like wildfire!

[Crolis]

Wow! That is an incredible citation. These HOA members should be put in stocks and pelted with rotten fruit for a few weeks.

[Moose4]

Dear Sussex Square HOA:

You are picking a fight with a man who stood alone, toe-to-toe, at seventy-five yards range with three of the most fearsome pieces of armored technology ever deployed upon a battlefield...AND WON.

What are you?

}:-)4

[kinsman redeemer]

Oh, By the way, Coates & Davenport, P.C. (800) 450-8311 (I suggest calling!) says,

Statement from the Sussex Square Homeowners Association Dec. 3, 2009

The Sussex Square Homeowners Association never intended its request that Col. Barfoot remove his flag pole as an affront to his patriotism.

This is not about the American flag. This is about a flag pole. And Col. Barfoot is not being forbidden from displaying an American flag.

With its request that he remove the flag pole, the association was discharging its duty to all the owners in the neighborhood. The association's position has merit and is supported by its Bylaws, Rules and Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants.

The association is optimistic that this matter can be resolved in a way that is mutually satisfactory to all parties and looks forward to Senator Mark Warner's involvement toward that end.

Anyone who wishes to offer comments may do so at colbarfootsflagpole@gmail.com

Thank you,

Coates & Davenport

Richmond, Virginia

The phoney email address at the end could have been "round_file@gmail.com" - So I suggest calling:
(800) 450-8311
Also the "Contact Us" link takes you to a form that works. That's a good alternative. The domain of the email address field must be legitimate - but that's all.