GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

So, via SayUncle, RidefastShootStraight, and Marko, we learn of one Van T. Barfoot, COL, USA (RET). 

Then-Technical Sergeant Barfoot won the Congressional Medal of Honor for, among other things, destroying a Tiger Tank with a bazooka and a tommy gun.

Now, his Home Owners' Association says he has to take his flagpole down.

There is not actually a rule against having a flag pole in his community, but the HOA has decided that his is esthetically displeasing.

The Sussex Square HOA (Glenn Wilson, President:  (804) 741-9160) is obviously made up of fools, poltroons, and/or communists, as well as the usual HOA roster of petty dictators and fascists.

Now, I admit that, as an amateur radio operator I am less inclined than most to HOAs, as they often have rules against antennas, even if used for emergency communications.  I am willing to admit that a community with no governmental authority to tax to pay for maintenance of community property--i.e., club houses or green spaces in a development--will find it useful to form an association to raise dues to pay for same; similarly, a group of neighbors may want to be vigilant, and establish rules, about things like garbage collection, cleaning up after your dog, feeding wild animals, and the like.  (Although regulating bird feeders is getting close to the edge.)

Nevertheless, I am reminded of the story my parents told me of their first month in their subdivision in Ohio, and the first meeting of the nascent HOA.  The self-appointed Napoleon in charge started reading a list of proposed regulations, and when she got to the colors residents were allowed to paint their houses, a voice in the back of the room yelled "I'll paint my house whatever damned color I want!"  Turning around, Dad said he saw an Army bird colonel (OSU ROTC  Defense Logistic Agency?) stomping out with his wife behind him; Dad and Mom got up and followed, and the meeting fell apart.

I'm not sure it was the same self-appointed dictator, but a few weeks later Dad caught some guy dumping "beauty bark" at the base of his trees; upon being challenged, he gestured up the block and said "She had some left over, and said to put it on everyone else's trees, too."

"GET OFF MY LAWN!"

ADDED: A lot of chatter about forming a new political party.  "The Constitution Party", etc.   I think the "'Get Off My Lawn' Party--or maybe Coalition--has a ring to it...