Van T. Barfoot and Homeowners Association Dispute Over a Flagpole-Truth!
Summary of eRumor:
This is a story about a decorated World War II veteran’s dispute with a homeowners association over a flagpole. Word of his death has gone viral on the Internet.
The Truth:
Retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II and several decades later drew national attention from a dispute with his homeowners association that told him to remove a flagpole flying the Stars and Stripes from the front yard of his home in Virginia. This according to a March 2, 2012 article by the Washington Post that said he died that year on March 2nd at a hospital in Richmond at the age of 92.
After a drawn-out battle the association eventually reversed its decision and allowed the veteran to keep his flagpole. Barfoot’s home-front battle did catch the eye of Virginia lawmakers, which led to a state law making it more difficult for homeowners associations to ban U.S. flag flying at residences.
Posted 08/30/14