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Veteran Ordered To Remove Flag From Outside Home
Management Company Says Flag Displays Violate Policy
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POSTED: 5:57 pm EDT May 19, 2010
UPDATED: 12:05 pm EDT May 20, 2010
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HILLSBOROUGH, N.H. -- A Navy veteran is fighting to be able to show his patriotism by flying an American flag outside his apartment building.
Joe LeVangie, 88, said he's upset after he and his neighbors were told to take their flags down because flying them was against management policy. He said there should be an exception for the flag.
LeVangie, a World War II veteran, said he used to fly his American flag outside his apartment at the Maple Leaf complex in Hillsborough.
"In respect for all the troops serving overseas now and for those who never came back," he said.
Slideshow: Veteran Told To Take Down Flag
But recently, his management company told all residents that their flags had to come down. The brackets for the flag poles were also removed.
"I was madder than hell," he said. "Come to find out, it was the maintenance man who was told to do so."
The same thing happened to Margery Kenney, who lives next door. Her brackets were taken down, and her flag is now rolled up against the wall.
"My whole family was in the service, and it's a shame something like this was allowed to happen," she said.
EJL Management said the flags violate a blanket policy prohibiting such displays. A letter sent to LeVangie said a letter sent to him by the company said it was part of a policy that also prohibits lawn ornaments and grills.
The company said that to honor residents' patriotism, a flag was placed at the entrance of Maple Leaf. But LeVangie said a single flag is not enough.
"Why should it be sufficient?" he said. "Is the one in Concord sufficient for the state of New Hampshire?"
LeVangie's rent is subsidized by the federal government. A representative from the Department of Housing and Urban Development said EJL is complying with the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005.
Management Company Says Flag Displays Violate Policy
Link Removed
POSTED: 5:57 pm EDT May 19, 2010
UPDATED: 12:05 pm EDT May 20, 2010
Email Print
Comments
HILLSBOROUGH, N.H. -- A Navy veteran is fighting to be able to show his patriotism by flying an American flag outside his apartment building.
Joe LeVangie, 88, said he's upset after he and his neighbors were told to take their flags down because flying them was against management policy. He said there should be an exception for the flag.
LeVangie, a World War II veteran, said he used to fly his American flag outside his apartment at the Maple Leaf complex in Hillsborough.
"In respect for all the troops serving overseas now and for those who never came back," he said.
Slideshow: Veteran Told To Take Down Flag
But recently, his management company told all residents that their flags had to come down. The brackets for the flag poles were also removed.
"I was madder than hell," he said. "Come to find out, it was the maintenance man who was told to do so."
The same thing happened to Margery Kenney, who lives next door. Her brackets were taken down, and her flag is now rolled up against the wall.
"My whole family was in the service, and it's a shame something like this was allowed to happen," she said.
EJL Management said the flags violate a blanket policy prohibiting such displays. A letter sent to LeVangie said a letter sent to him by the company said it was part of a policy that also prohibits lawn ornaments and grills.
The company said that to honor residents' patriotism, a flag was placed at the entrance of Maple Leaf. But LeVangie said a single flag is not enough.
"Why should it be sufficient?" he said. "Is the one in Concord sufficient for the state of New Hampshire?"
LeVangie's rent is subsidized by the federal government. A representative from the Department of Housing and Urban Development said EJL is complying with the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005.
