Thursday, May 27, 2010

Unbelievable!!!

This story is totally unbelievable!
Our home has an American Flag waving in the front yard. From the day B deployed, my flag has a yellow ribbon hanging from the pole. Showing our colors is a freedom, and I for one will exercise this freedom for as long as I live. We have soldiers who have fought and soldiers who have died for these colors.


Wisconsin Veteran Must Remove Flag After Memorial Day, Wife Says
By Joshua Rhett Miller

Published May 26, 2010
FOXNews.com


An Army veteran in Wisconsin will be allowed to display an American flag until Memorial Day, but the symbol honoring his service in Iraq and Kosovo must come down next Tuesday, his wife told FoxNews.com.

Dawn Price, 27, of Oshkosh, Wis., said she received a call from officials at Midwest Realty Management early Wednesday indicating that she and her husband, Charlie, would be allowed to continue flying the American flag they've had in their window for months through the holiday weekend. The couple had previously been told they had to remove the flag by Saturday or face eviction due to a company policy that bans the display of flags, banners and political or religious materials.

"It's basically an extension so we can fly the flag on Memorial Day," Price told FoxNews.com. "It does need to come down after that."

Charlie Price, 28, served tours of duty as a combat engineer in Iraq and Kosovo, his wife said. To honor his eight years of service, she began decorating their apartment during Veterans Day in November. An American flag topped off the display, she said.

"I knew it made Charlie really proud to see that," she said. "And this isn't something new. This has been up for quite some time now."

Veterans' groups were furious at the realtors' refusal to allow the flag to fly.

"As a veteran, it sickens me that the Dawn and Charlie Price's building management company would imply that the American flag could be construed as offensive by their residents," said Ryan Gallucci, a spokesman for AmVets.

"We're talking about our most revered national symbol. This is insulting to anyone who has defended our flag honorably, like Charlie Price."

Dawn Price said she now works to amend the federal Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, which states no "condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association" may stop someone from flying the American flag. The law, however, does not apply to renters.

"This has been eating at us since Friday," she said. 'The best way to fight this isn't getting an eviction and going after these people in court. That's just going to cost us a lot of time, energy and money."

Instead, Dawn Price said she either intends to place a curtain between the flag and the apartment window to block it from onlookers or will move it to a rear balcony come next week.

"We don't want to fight the eviction," she said. "We know we'd lose."

Officials at Midwest Realty Management, which manages Brookside Apartments, where the Prices live, did not return several messages seeking comment. In a statement to the Oshkosh Northwestern, company officials said the policy was established to provide a consistent living environment for all residents.

"This policy was developed to insure that we are fair to everyone as we have many residents from diverse backgrounds," the statement read. "By having a blanket policy of neutrality we have found that we are less likely to offend anyone and the aesthetic qualities of our apartment communities are maintained."

Despite the brief reprieve, Dawn Price said her husband is disappointed by the flag flap.

"He actually sees it as a slap in the face to his service," she said. "He's pretty upset about it, especially right around Memorial Day."

A Facebook group created by Dawn Price, "Freedom to Display the American Flag," had roughly 2,000 members as of Wednesday.

"As a father of a son [who] is currently serving in Iraq this blackens my heart!!!!" read one comment. "These men and women sign a blank check up to and including their life!"

18 comments:

joanne said...

anyone who is offended by the American Flag can go..back to where they came from. (I was going to say something else!) This is sickening, frustrating, maddening. grrrr...

Coffeypot said...

It is okay to not offend any foreigners or left wing liberals and other assholes in their complex, but it is okay to offend the person who fought to save the rights of those to complain. When is this country going to wake up and start believing in America again?

Bag Blog said...

"...consistent living environment for all..." and "... fair to everyone..." both sound a bit Socialistic.

Mari said...

This makes me so mad! I hope this publicity makes them think twice about this stupid rule!

The Blog Fodder said...

Condo Associations are run by the people who show up. Like everything else. And the control freaks come out in droves. NEVER live in a condo. I tried for a couple years and hated it. Dumb rules, you bet.

christian soldier said...

Life Liberty Property (original words)-by giving gvt-or companies power over your property-you give them the 'right' to tell you what to do...
Never live in a gated community-a condo-or ....
C-CS

juliannah said...

I posted about the very same thing today!I guess like minds think alike. Seriously, this story really disgusted me. Our vets deserve better!
Here is my post.

http://ht.ly/1QUxI

christian soldier said...

BTW- the same thing happened to a WWII Vet..
http://carolmsblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/vets-flag-removed-from-his-homegvtgave.html
C-CS

Unknown said...

joanne...the sad part, we are talking of an American Flag!

Unknown said...

coffeypot...have you ever heard of the Christian singer named, Carman...he sings a song called "America Again"...I think you will enjoy!
~AM

Unknown said...

bag blog...sadness.

Unknown said...

mari...I hope so too!

Unknown said...

blog fodder...it is easier not to attend condo meetings, allowing someone else to set the rules you live by...if nothing else this story is a strong warning!

Unknown said...

c-cs...thank you!

Unknown said...

juliannah...I'm on my way to your blog...............

Unknown said...

c-cs...I look forward to reading your post. thanks!

- said...

Airman Mom,
Just wanted to say hi its been a long time since I have made contact with any of my fellow bloggers. I always enjoy reading yours. I continue to pray for your son and family. Have a great and safe Memorial weekend.
Military Mom X2

HeartBass said...

Since when is our national flag considered a "political symbol"? It's a symbol, all right, of OUR COUNTRY!! Every citizen of the United States has a right -- nay, a RESPONSIBILITY -- to display our National Colors! This is absolutely ridiculous! The Prices need to fight this ruling!