Former Marine Denied Right to Fly Flag: Is That Right?
SodaHead News
2011/01/14 16:00:00
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We always thought in Texas bigger was better. But we guess not when it comes to flagpoles used to fly the American flag.
That's what former Marine Mike Merola of Cypress, Texas, has found out. His homeowner's association has filed a complaint against Merola after he refused to take down a 20-foot flagpole that he has in his backyard, according to ABC News. The association says its rules limit pole heights to six feet and only poles attached to residents' homes.
"Because I served this country for eight years, I feel every American citizen who has served and others who want to honor those who paid the ultimate price should be able to fly the American flag," Merola told ABC News. "I have had nothing but compliments on this. The HOA is the only ones that have a problem with it."
Merola said the rules only apply to flagpoles in front yards and that it is a violation of the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, which bans many restrictions of flying a flag.
But the homeowners' association states that the act allows it to regulate the time, manner and display of the flag.
Merola's neighbors have signed petitions in support of the former Marine, saying that the flagpole can't be seen by others and should be left alone.

That's what former Marine Mike Merola of Cypress, Texas, has found out. His homeowner's association has filed a complaint against Merola after he refused to take down a 20-foot flagpole that he has in his backyard, according to ABC News. The association says its rules limit pole heights to six feet and only poles attached to residents' homes.
"Because I served this country for eight years, I feel every American citizen who has served and others who want to honor those who paid the ultimate price should be able to fly the American flag," Merola told ABC News. "I have had nothing but compliments on this. The HOA is the only ones that have a problem with it."
Merola said the rules only apply to flagpoles in front yards and that it is a violation of the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, which bans many restrictions of flying a flag.
But the homeowners' association states that the act allows it to regulate the time, manner and display of the flag.
Merola's neighbors have signed petitions in support of the former Marine, saying that the flagpole can't be seen by others and should be left alone.
Read More: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/marine-mike-merola-...
Top Opinion
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DiViews2013 2011/01/14 18:02:18Yes+19When you live in a subdivision, there are rules that you agree to live by. This is a matter he should have pursued through the homeowner's association prior to taking it to the streets.






















There was nothing in my rules pack that stated that the HOA had the right to tell me what colors i could paint the INSIDE of my house. One day one of the association members showed up at my door and said that i had to repaint my bedroom because the color offended her.
I said "what f#@& are you doing looking in my bedroom window?"
I then told her to go f#@& herself, and i put the place up for sale the very next day.
I will never live in a place like that again.
It's my f#@&ing; bedroom, I'll paint it any f#@&ing; color i want.
To hell with these too bit dictatorial HOAs
I'm a retired Marine myself......Rule's are there for a reson of all people he should know that.
Sounds like your one in the same... A couple of she-he's
You're a 19 year old kid.
You're critically wounded and dying in
the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam .
It's November 11, 1967.
LZ (landing zone) X-ray.
Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense from 100 yards away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming in.
You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out.
Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.
Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter.
You look up to see a Huey coming in. But.. It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.
He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.
Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.
And he drops it in and sits there in...
You're a 19 year old kid.
You're critically wounded and dying in
the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam .
It's November 11, 1967.
LZ (landing zone) X-ray.
Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense from 100 yards away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming in.
You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out.
Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.
Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter.
You look up to see a Huey coming in. But.. It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.
He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.
Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.
And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board.
Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety.
And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!!
Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm.
He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.
Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Air Force, died last Wednesday at the age of 70, in Boise , Idaho
May God Bless and Rest His Soul.
I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, but we've sure seen a whole bunch about Lindsay Lohan, Tiger Woods and the bickering of congress over Health Reform.
Medal of Honor Winner Captain Ed Freeman
Shame on the American media !!!
Now... YOU pass this along to YOUR
mailing list. Honor this real American.
Please. Thanks.
Semper Fi!!!!!
On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg -- probably didn't make much news back then.
Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano , Italy , Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the Army in 1940, set out to flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned with 17 prisoners of war.
If that wasn't enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed three
German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.
That probably didn't make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it
did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a colonel after also serving in Korea and
Vietnam , a Congressional Medal of Honor.
What did make news last week was a neighborhood association's quibble with
how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban
Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be flown on a house-mounted
bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were
unsuitable.
He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it...
On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg -- probably didn't make much news back then.
Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano , Italy , Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the Army in 1940, set out to flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned with 17 prisoners of war.
If that wasn't enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed three
German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.
That probably didn't make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it
did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a colonel after also serving in Korea and
Vietnam , a Congressional Medal of Honor.
What did make news last week was a neighborhood association's quibble with
how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban
Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be flown on a house-mounted
bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were
unsuitable.
He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court
action if he didn't take it down. Since the story made national TV, the
neighborhood association has rethought its position and agreed to indulge this
old hero who dwells among them.
"In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without
interference," Barfoot told The Associated Press.
As well he should.
And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him, they might want to
read his Medal of Honor citation. It indicates he's not real good at backing down.
Van T. Barfoot's Medal of Honor citation:
This 1944 Medal of Honor citation, listed with the National Medal of Honor
Society, is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano , Italy . With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun
killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed
position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued
onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of point blank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers."
Most of you buddies said, he's better then nothng, till we get back to The World.
That's about the way it was, wasn't it..Go on you tell us, Right???? How's that for, spelling and puncuation????