Vet Faces Lawsuit For Flying American Flag
(WKMG)
CLERMONT, Fla. — A Central Florida war veteran faces a lawsuit for flying the American flag on a pole 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 notice from the Sussex homeowners’ association in Clermont that they must remove the flag or 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 to do as we like here within the law of America,” Watkins said. “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 cost 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.
(nods Unbreakable)
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
So flying the American flag will bring down the value of homes around it? is that really where we are in this country?
Since this is the associations opinion that just shows what kind of people they are. This vet needs to fly that flag proudly and fight these people tooth and nail until they either leave him alone or expose what kind of pricks they really are in front of the whole country.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:29 amShouldn’t flying a flag and being a vet bring UP values and not bring them down?
May 27th, 2008 at 7:36 amSomeone please publish the names of the homeowner’s association. It’s always easy to make these calls when you can hide behind the mask of “the association”. Everytime something like this comes up the first thing that should happen is to unmask the “they”.
And then we can all watch the cockroaches run for the dark corners.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:54 amHere’s a link to the homeowner’s assoc.
Let’s let ‘em know how we feel about this.
http://www.kingsridge.com/outside_home.asp
And here’s some contacts:
KINGS RIDGE CLUBHOUSE
1900 KINGS RIDGE BLVD.
CLERMONT, FL
Clubhouse Phone: 352-242-9653
Clubhouse Fax: 352-242-2917
Staff:
W. David Mahan Resident Manager
Martha Blaclock Resident Services Associate
Belinda Britt Resident Services Associate
Kristina HIll Resident Services Associate
Pat Nielsen Resident Services Associate
Rosie Herring Resident Services Associate
May 27th, 2008 at 8:15 amThis is not a surprise.
I live in an area where the “condo commandos” are like dictators.
It can get real ugly with the “bylaws and rules” thing.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:16 amAs a Veteran, I’d much rather live in a neighborhood with other Veterans and our supporters. Maybe the HOA needs to hear from all of us Flag owners/flyers…
May 27th, 2008 at 8:40 amOut-fucking-rageous.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:45 amThe HOA fascists are alive and well in Florida.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:51 amTry again fools:
(source = http://www.ushistory.org/BETSY/more/hr42.htm )
Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005
–H.R.42–
H.R.42
One Hundred Ninth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the third day of January, two thousand and six
An Act
To ensure that the right of an individual to display the flag of the United States on residential property not be abridged.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005′.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act–
(1) the term ‘flag of the United States’ has the meaning given the term ‘flag, standard, colors, or ensign’ under section 3 of title 4, United States Code;
(2) the terms ‘condominium association’ and ‘cooperative association’ have the meanings given such terms under section 604 of Public Law 96-399 (15 U.S.C. 3603);
(3) the term ‘residential real estate management association’ has the meaning given such term under section 528 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 528); and
(4) the term ‘member’–
(A) as used with respect to a condominium association, means an owner of a condominium unit (as defined under section 604 of Public Law 96-399 (15 U.S.C. 3603)) within such association;
(B) as used with respect to a cooperative association, means a cooperative unit owner (as defined under section 604 of Public Law 96-399 (15 U.S.C. 3603)) within such association; and
(C) as used with respect to a residential real estate management association, means an owner of a residential property within a subdivision, development, or similar area subject to any policy or restriction adopted by such association.
SEC. 3. RIGHT TO DISPLAY THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES.
A condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association may not adopt or enforce any policy, or enter into any agreement, that would restrict or prevent a member of the association from displaying the flag of the United States on residential property within the association with respect to which such member has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use.
SEC. 4. LIMITATIONS.
Nothing in this Act shall be considered to permit any display or use that is inconsistent with–
(1) any provision of chapter 1 of title 4, United States Code, or any rule or custom pertaining to the proper display or use of the flag of the United States (as established pursuant to such chapter or any otherwise applicable provision of law); or
(2) any reasonable restriction pertaining to the time, place, or manner of displaying the flag of the United States necessary to protect a substantial interest of the condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:59 amhttp://www.ushistory.org/BETSY/more/hr42.htm
Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005
May 27th, 2008 at 9:01 amLet the man fly the flag of this country! I live in a private community in NC with an HOA and we have some pretty crazy rules…however, flying the flag is not one of them. Many in our neighborhood fly flags in the same manner. Maybe he should sell his house and move to NC where we support our troops and fly the flag proudly…just like most other cities and states in the Good ‘ol USA!
May 27th, 2008 at 9:16 amAll I have to say is come Into my property and tell me to take down the American Flag!!!
May 27th, 2008 at 10:24 amFlying the flag is Unamerican! Apple Pie is murder. Baseball creates global warming!
How dare he…
/sarcasm
May 27th, 2008 at 11:38 amHOW CONVEINIENT OF THEM TO LEAVE THIS LOOPHOLE IN THE Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005.
SEC. 4. LIMITATIONS.
Nothing in this Act shall be considered to permit any display or use that is inconsistent with–
(1) any provision of chapter 1 of title 4, United States Code, or any rule or custom pertaining to the proper display or use of the flag of the United States (as established pursuant to such chapter or any otherwise applicable provision of law); or
(2) any reasonable restriction pertaining to the time, place, or manner of displaying the flag of the United States necessary to protect a substantial interest of the condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:10 pmHello,
The Kings Ridge Clubhouse is a seperate entity from the Kings Ridge Community. Myself, nor my staff, have anything to do with the issue between the mentioned resident and the community. Please remove my contact information and the contact information of my staff. The community is managed by Sentry Management and their contact number is 352-243-4595.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:18 pmThe Kings Ridge Clubhouse proudly has an American Flag flying 24/7!
Thank you,
W. David Mahan
Hell HOAs are un-American, a non elected official trying to tell someone what to do on their property? Hell even an elected one? There’s a reason we have the First and Second amendments. I think the HOA needs a refresher on why we fight.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pmIt’s a money thing. The association obviously judges that anti-US liberals are more numerous and well-off than their opposites, so is catering to the perceived marketplace.
May 27th, 2008 at 4:21 pmOhh that rule is complete and total bullshit. Someone should throw massive amounts of American flags in all of those people lawns. Be patriotic. Not that hard.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:02 pmthank you david mahan, sorry about the mixup!
May 28th, 2008 at 4:40 amHow sad that he fought for all of ours’ right to fly and live under the freedoms of that flag yet he is not allowed to display it with pride.
Glad to see the law is on his side.
May 28th, 2008 at 7:10 am