« Helping get the message correct | Main | Cruisin' in the Past »
August 8, 2006
OH FOR GOD'S SAKE---WAKE UP!!!
Within last two weeks, President Bush signed the "Freedom to Fly the American Flag Act" and three different states passed laws allowing the flying of the flag, all aimed at community associations. In the last two days, I've seen 3 stories about associations sending violation notices about flag poles to owners. This is getting ridiculous!
Here, let me help you out. This is the story you're going to see in the news the day after you send one of these notices:
The widow of a former veteran, whose son is now serving in Iraq thought it would be nice to show her support of the troops and love for her country, by putting a 15' flagpole in her front yard, and proudly flying "Old Glory" from it every day. Shortly thereafter, she received a notice from her homeowner association telling her to take it down. With tears streaming down her aging cheeks, she showed us the letter, from the "Architectural Control Committee" saying she had not received permission to place the pole in her front yard, and to remove or face fines of $100 per day. "I just wanted to show a little patriotism, in honor of my late husband, and our son, who is risking his life daily for all of us" . She showed a picture of her son, in Marine field gear, standing next to a bombed out building in Iraq. I pray for him every day. I wanted to show how proud I am of him. I can't believe anyone would object to flying our country's flag, the symbol of our freedom."------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The letter from the associaton went on to say that, in the interests of conformity, flags could only be flown from brackets attached to the door frame of the home, and then only on specified national holidays. The widow showed us where she tried to attach a bracket, but "it broke off with the first little gust of wind". "Besides", she said, "what's the harm in flying the flag every day?"
Phone calls to the board president went unanswered, and the spokesperson for the the management company, "Please don't print our name" Association Management, had "No comment".
We spoke to her neighbors to see what they thought. One stated the association "tries to run everybody's life, with all kinds of nitpicky rules" and another commented, "it's great to see the flag there every day".
To her credit, the widow, looking out the window at her flag, quietly said, "That flag will stay, even if they fine me every single day for the rest of my life, I won't take it down".
Even though the homeowner's association may say that the issue is with the flag pole, and not the flag, its apparent that patriotism is not something they want shown in their community. How sad that is and how small they must be to hurt this woman so much.
That's what you can expect if you don't have a flag policy that conforms with the law, and is supported by the residents. I've known for a long time that many people don't read, or watch the news, or pay much attention to anything outside of their own little world, but someone on the board or in the management company HAS to know what is going to happen if you take on the American Flag.
If you don't have a flag policy at all (and apparently, many associations don't), then get one. Survey the owners as to what they want, publish a draft policy for comments, have your attorney check it,and then adopt it, making sure everyone gets a copy. If your policy is anything less than "fly whatever the hell you want, whenever you want and wherever you want, we don't care" have a statement ready for the press, because sooner or later someone will test the limits of the policy.
Better yet, buy a flag and 30' pole for the association and put it up near the entrance or clubhouse (or both if you want to be even more patriotic). If an owner objects to the expense, go 'Karl Rove' on them, making sure their neighbors know of their lack of patriotism, lack of love for their country, and their failure to support the troops defending us.
Sorry, got a little crazy there. But, in a world where perception is as, or more, important than reality, it doesn't hurt to get in front of this issue, instead of always playing catch-up. Who knows, owners might not feel the need to plant a pole in their front yard, if the association has already shown the world how patriotic the people who live there are.
Get a policy that your owners will support and is OK with the letter and spirit of the law.
Please make these stories go away.
Posted by joewest at August 8, 2006 10:58 AM