Bob and Judy Willits are being told to take down their flagpole, which proudly displays both the American Flag and the POW/MIA flag. The Willits are adamant that they will not put down the flagpole that they have placed in front of their house. Since the flagpole was placed near the street, the homeowner’s association of their neighborhood has begun asking them to take the flags and the poles away or at least mount them on their own property. The local court says that a case may be placed against the homeowners if necessary.
Bob Willits served in the Korean War, so his wife Judy is strongly against the homeowner’s association’s movement. Also, Bob’s brother is still MIA in Korea, he has never made it back. She says that her husband deserves the ability to show his patriotism and to show respect for his brother without being discriminated against. Bob Willits is currently suffering from Parkinson’s, so it is mostly Judy who is taking care of the flagpole’s maintenance.
The Willits assert that the HOA has no right to ask the to take down the flagpole (and ultimately the flags), because of the Flag Act. The flag act dictates that homeowner’s associations actually have no right to dictate any regulations about the presentation of flags unless under specific circumstances. The homeowners association is still pressing the issue because of the flagpole, which they say has nothing to do with flags and that flagpoles violate the HOA rules. Judy Willits and Bob Willits continue to fight for their right to fly the flag. The flag represents so much more to them because of Bob’s military service. And as common sense has it, in order to display a flag, one needs a flag pole.
You can read more about this on Fox News. Both sides have hired lawyers and are digging in over Old Glory.
