Posted on 07/12/2012 8:33:50 AM PDT by raccoonradio
WRENTHAM — Just a week after the nation celebrated its birthday, residents of the Garden Lane public housing complex are being told they can no longer display their patriotism by hanging U.S. flags outside their homes.
Tenants of the complex, operated near the center of town by the Wrentham Housing Authority, were notified of the new policy through a letter taped to their doors sometime Wednesday afternoon.
The letter, which is unsigned but is on housing authority letterhead, says the move was made after a tenant repeatedly complained to the state Department of Housing and Community Development over the July 4th holiday.
“(The) Wrentham Housing Authority has been informed that the public display of the American flag in common areas is not permitted,” it said.
The letter goes on to say that flags can still be displayed inside tenants’ apartments, just not outside.
“Flags may be visible through the apartment windows, but may not be displayed on the exterior of the buildings or on the ground around the buildings,” it said.
There is no explanation given for the rule, other than the complaints of a tenant. Housing Authority Executive Director Nancy Siegel was not available Wednesday afternoon for comment.
A call to a spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Housing and Community Development was not returned Wednesday.
Ironically, flag-holding hardware is affixed to doors throughout the complex.
The issue in Wrentham is similar to one that developed last year at Gardner Terrace, a privately owned, but government subsidized affordable housing complex in Attleboro.
There, tenants were forbidden from putting any decorations, including flags, on their doors after a resident posted an Irish slur.
Whatever the reasoning for the rule, it quickly rankled residents of the Wrentham housing, including Barbara Marshall, the only tenant to have a flag hung up outside her home Wednesday afternoon.
Marshall, 82, called the policy “unbelievable,” and said she’s proudly hung a flag outside her apartment for more than a dozen years.
“I’ve always had a flag,” she said. “I’m very upset.”
At times speaking through tears, Marshall said veterans have played an important role in her family’s history, from her brother landing in Normandy D-Day invasion during World War II, to her work in shelters, to her grandson clearing graves in Plainville.
“All my family is so indebted to the veterans, to that flag,” she said.
Upon reading the letter, Marshall, who is recovering from surgery, said she had to lie down because she was so upset.
She said she will not remove the flag herself and will document any other attempts to discard it.
“If somebody wants to come and take the flag down, I’ll take pictures,” she said.
Marshall said she intends to call U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, a Wrentham resident, to see if his office can help change the policy.
“Somebody’s got to help,” she said.
For now, though, Marshall said she’ll continue to hang her flag proudly despite what the letter, which also contains regulations for gardening, says.
“I don’t care about the gardening, but don’t take my flag,” she said.
Nope. Just like any other cockroach, they are fleeing the light... only to return in the darkness...
I can keep my Che flag up right?
What about my American flag with Obama on it?
Thanks for the ping.
fight Obama, display the flag!
remember the left hates displays of the flag because people have a tendency to vote against democrats when they see the US Flag.
This is why obama created his own logo. To avoid the flag.
We should all display flags outside our homes. The more people displaying flags the better.
Just REFUSE to comply.
Gather together with as many tenants as you can ally with.
Force the complex to act, then start calling in the news media.
Make it go viral.
Then sue the pants off them when they don't. :-)
“One person complained” is totally bogus. One anonymous complaint, and everybody else goes on record trying to defeat the decision. And gets ignored.
I’ll wager that the “anonymous complaint” is totally made up. Let that person stand up and speak out, like everyone else, and be accountable for your actions. “One person complained” is an excuse to take unilateral action on your own, while not accepting responsibility.
Second issue- what about Brazilian flags? Can they be flown? Mexico? Canada?
Then no authority behind it. Put up 3, 6, 57 US flags.
I didn’t see what country that happened in?-——but I’m pretty sure some genius is going to get a flag pole enema.
“Only an agent of government could calculate so poorly. “
The one anti-USA person on the board is using the excuse of “one person complained” to unilaterally take action on his agenda. This is calculated, and it always works.
All those opposed must go on record to speak out (the normal, American way to do things).
Shouldn’t be hard to figure out who the sniveler is. Just find the only door without a flag———and burn it-——in the expression of free speech, of course.
"Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;
Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men hauled down;
In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet,
Up the street came the rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.
Under his slouched hat left and right
He glanced; the old flag met his sight.
'Halt!' - the dust-brown ranks stood fast.
'Fire!' - out blazed the rifle-blast.
It shivered the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.
Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf.
She leaned far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.
'Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag,' she said."
Post the name of the “offended” tenant. Let the other residents know who it was that did this. No hiding behind the cloak of anonymity.
Well you get stuff from the government for free how on Earth can these people complain. I say change it from Public Housing to commercial housing. Have them pay normal rent prices and they can put up whatever they want.
If not then sue their butts—pun intended.
Dear God these are people that are not paying for rent or are paying something like 25 bucks a month for rent. I say they shut their mouths or get off the government teet. I am sick of moochers.
Somebody who has a roof over his head paid for by the government is complaining about the flag? What gall!
The newspaper where Clark Kent works has its own flag? LOL
They wouldn’t recognize the Stars & Bars. You might mean the Naval Ensign.
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