June/July 2014
38002.com
Amen’s Angels Of Real Estate
Honoring America’s Freedoms
By Michelle Amen, REALTOR
During this time of year, we all pay
a little more focus on honoring our
country and celebrating not only
the American Dream but what
America stands for- Life, Liberty
and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Memorial Day, Flag Day and
Independence Day are all
reminders to us of how great this
country is and how worthy it is to
fight for. After the tragedies that
have occurred on our own soil and all the lives lost in
service to our country, can you believe that there are
instances of discrimination against the American Flag in
residential communities? Below I want to share with you
parts of an article from WHMT 19 News in Huntsville,
Alabama:
“A request to remove an American flag has caused an
Internet uproar and a Facebook sharing frenzy. A soldier
and his wife who live at Stepping Stone Condominiums in
Huntsville said they received a note from the complex
Monday evening to remove the flag. The note said the flag
violates the home owner’s association bylaws, and urged
the couple to remove the flag ASAP to keep the community
tidy. …A local group of concerned patriots caught drift of
the debate and decided to congregate in front of the home
and form a flag line in peaceful protest. The flustered
[property manager] says,’…The only thing our manager
did was send a letter on our behalf going by the bylaw
saying that stuff on the outside is not allowed [and] the
member of their management team who delivered the flag
removal request was unaware at the time of “The Freedom
to Display the American Flag Act of 2005”...
Needless to say, there was peaceful protesting (along
with quite a bit of harassment to the home association’s
board members) but the association did eventually change
their bylaws to be in accordance with Federal Law. But I
want to make sure you know your rights as a current or
future homeowner during this time of remembrance and
celebration of our great country.
The Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005
“…A condominium association, cooperative
association, or residential real estate management
association may not adopt or enforce any policy, or enter
into any agreement that would restrict or prevent a
member of the association from displaying the flag of the
United States on residential property within the association
with respect to which such member has a separate
ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or
use.”
Essentially, this prohibits home owners associations
from adopting any laws that prevent (home-owning)
residents from displaying the American Flag. Renters are
excluded from this act and some allowances are made for
certain types of building structures (think metropolitan
high rises for example).
So while we prepare for these holidays with cookouts,
neighborhood parades and firework displays, let us rejoice
in all our freedoms and those who have served and Fly
High the American Flag!
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