Veteran Larry Murphfree from Jacksonville, FL was fined $8000 and had a foreclosure lien placed on his home for putting a small American flag in his flowerpot – even though he had a legal right to do so. If he doesn’t pay within 30 days he might lose his home.
“I want it to go away. It’s such a minor little thing and they keep coming after me,” he explained.
“They” is Murphree’s homeowner’s association. He’s lived in the Sweetwater community for years, and been at odds with the HOA for more than two. All over a flag. The veteran decided to put one in his flower pot, and has been fined as a result.
“They just sent me a letter that says I owe them around $8,000 and they put a foreclosure lien on my house,” he continued.
Action News wanted to know how that’s possible, so we took our questions to legal and safety expert Dale Carson.
“There’s an actual Florida statute that says he can display this flag,” Carson said.
Federal law from 2005 also backs that up. We reached out to the law office that reprsents the HOA and got attorney Michelle Haines. She tells me if payment is not made within 30 days, the law office can move forward with foreclosure on Murphree’s home. – See more at: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/veteran-may-lose-home-over-flag-fight/ngRCt/#sthash.OTe76VXL.dpuf
You have got to be kidding….The flag represents the United States of America. God represents who is in control.
we all are flying one if you dont like it try to take it down
All of my flower pots have flags and I have several small ones flagging plants I set out .. best of all I have a BIG one flying from my front porch !! GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!
Sadly, they can spell better than you can, Cody.
What !!!
Want to bet and HOA is behind the issue?
Sue,sue sue.that’s what I would do,
What a shame, this Veteran cannot lose his home for the flag is part of him, an American Veteran. Contact your VFW post.
It’s been explained throughout this thread, but people don’t care about the facts.
The facts are that he is permitted to fly a flag if he wants to. The homeowner’s $#%&!@*ociation just has rules that he has to fly the flag from a flagpole on his house. They do that to keep the lawns in the neighborhood from being cluttered. This guy doesn’t want to obey the rules of the homeowner’s $#%&!@*ociation–rules which he agreed to when he bought a house in that neighborhood to begin with.
This is Not our America, anymore !