Flying a Foreign Flag in the US - PLEASE HELP :)

[-Irish in US-]

What is the name of your state? Florida

I am Irish and living in Florida for 3 years now. Recently at our monthly Association meeting it was voted on that you could fly flags outside your home, if you were flying a foreign flag that you must fly the American Flag with it. As last weekend was St.Patricks Day I decided to fly the Irish Flag AND the American Flag - I got the two sewn together and hung them outside my home.

Yesterday I received a letter from my Association with a copy of "The Federal Flag Code" requiring me to read it and to "Please fly both Flags properly" after reading "The Federal Flag Code" and researching "Flag Rules and Regulations" at www.ushistory.org I dont see any problem, see below:

1. Are there penalties for violating the Flag Code?

No. The Flag Code is intended as a guide to be followed on a purely voluntary basis to insure proper respect for the flag.

2. I have a neighbor flying a Mexican flag and no US flag. Is this a violation of the flag code?

The Flag Code requires that the US flag be flown on federal institutions, including public schools. It does not require you to fly the US flag and it does not forbid you from displaying a foreign flag. For example, someone with Irish heritage may proudly fly an Irish flag and is not required to fly the US flag. In the early 1900s there was hostility when the German flag was flown in the US, prompting Theodore Roosevelt to state that we had one flag, and one language. We are again revisiting tensions, this time it is the Mexican flag. We understand the emotional tensions of the situation, however, the Flag Code does not support those who wish to forbid the flying of the Mexican flag within our borders without also flying the US flag.

3. On a neighbor's house, the flag of a foreign country hangs prominently displayed. Their home doesn't display the flag of the United States of America.

The US Flag Code does not require a private citizen to fly the US flag. You can politely suggest that your neighbor consider flying the US flag and explain your feelings, but your neighbor is a free citizen and the choice of displaying the flag is his and should be respected as a good neighbor.

4. Where should the flag be mounted as it relates to the front of a house?

It is traditionally flown either to the right or the left of the front door. It can be on either side. When there is a choice, find a position of prominence. Sometimes that is the left of the door, sometimes the right, sometimes away from the door, but centered on the house (when you have a porch, for example). Use your best judgment to find a nice position for the flag. However, if you fly a second flag, then the US flag must be on the viewer's left of the other flag, as you approach the house.What is the name of your state?

So as far as I can see I am doing nothing wrong here - if anyone can help me out here it would be greatly appreciated as I want to have all my facts right because I have not taken down the Flags and I know I will be hearing from my Association again soon.What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?

Thank you in advance.
J

 

[Miss Smith]

Well color me green and hold my wig back as I puke

Are we getting a little Code happy with this HOA thing or am I getting a little Batty? ( Do not answer that!!!)

Is This America the home of the free or the home of the "What is that code again?" Or " Who can we Tap again...

We are not about to question things now are we "j" we can go into concentation camps if we have too many cats and they happen to meow together or change garbage cans from one alley to another. I swear Tilly and Amber got ambushed on 2nd street because they are not of a certain color ( Tabby) and were thrown out of the street because they did not look "right".

Gotta go. I heard of a chair that could make my old bones feel "right" from an old Thai guy down Bayard street. I hope they do not throw me out because I am wearing a 49's hat.

Shoot man... Rules.. Theys are a made for breaking... REMEMBER THE TEA PARTY.... ( Not the one wear I came wearing only a thong... THE BOSTON ONE.... SHOOT we are the USA... We let the darn weirdos do their parades let us do our pride in our roots before we got here to our poud USA!

 

[Ohiogal]

The American Flag is to be flown HIGHER than any other flag that is flown with it. If they are at the same height than that is improper -- not illegal but improper.

 

[Miss Smith]

Colour me red white and blue and lighte me up like a firecraker

I say nothing makes my little muffen-pan go Cat go off like a good sparkler on the fourth of July. But still. Are all these rules necessary ( Wowo I spell checked me self and I spelled that right that is a hard one) don't you think so?

Ohio girl I think you are smart, I am to thinking I like you. I also like The old USA.But HOA means to me Horse Orneay asses to me... Ya know.??? Oppa litty got my Vienna sausas gotta hippitta hop!


Tigger... DOWN! DROP!

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

Apparently, the HOA has issues with you defacing the American flag because you sewed another flag to it. Get your BBQ pit out and take it to the end of the driveway. Start a good fire going and respectfully place the American flag in the fire. Then while standing there watching it burn, place your right hand over your heart and recite the pledge of alligance. The only proper way to dispose of an American flag that is old, torn, faded, touched the ground, whatever is by burning. (but wait, isn't there a push for a Constitutional amendment to ban flag burning? How does that work with the flag code? )

Our wedding dance song was "Did your mother come from Ireland?"
The bachlor party song was "Seven drunkun nights."

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Until you can come back and tell us exactly what the HOA regs say, no one can answer your question.

 

[-Irish in US-]

Re; Flying a Foreign Flag in the US

Until you can come back and tell us exactly what the HOA regs say, no one can answer your question.

Below is the letter I received:

Dear G & J:

I am writing for the Board of Directors of F------- P------ HOA,Inc. During an inspection of the property, it was noticed that you are flying the Irish flag on one side and the AMerican flag on the other side. Please see enclosed (PUBLIC LAW 94-344) which states that you can fly your Home Land Country flag behind or below the American Flag. It looks like you have one flag on one side and another flag on the other side.

Please fly both flags correctly.

Sincerly,
S W

After reading "The Federal Code" yet again

Page 2 of 5 - Sec.3

(g) When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from seperate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of equal size.

Is this not for Businesses and Federal Buildings?

J

 

[Caveman]

ugh

Our flag? was a hide that we pushed a bloody boars head on it to imprint it and waved above our hunched backs to scare of other tribes from our fire.

It is amazing how much it looks like bush. now.

Really amazing.

I think I lost my appetite.

 

[nextwife]

I agree. The flags need to each be flown properly, rather than desecrating them both.

 

[stealth2]

I agree. The flags need to each be flown properly, rather than desecrating them both.

Ditto that.

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

You sewed two flags together? And you wonder why the HOA has a problem?

Did everyone else posting miss this part?

I caught it--"Apparently, the HOA has issues with you defacing the American flag because you sewed another flag to it."

From subsequent posts by the OP, it seems the flags were sewed together along all four seams, so from one side it appears like old glory and the other Irish.

 

[-Irish in US-]

Re; Flying a Foreign Flag in the US

So to solve all this I should just remove the American Flag....

"Quote from Flag Rules and Regulations"

It does not require you to fly the US flag and it does not forbid you from displaying a foreign flag. For example, someone with Irish heritage may proudly fly an Irish flag and is not required to fly the US flag.

I mean, its not like it looks anyway tacky as I would be the first to remove it if it was, its actually quite nice.

J

 

[stealth2]

So to solve all this I should just remove the American Flag....

"Quote from Flag Rules and Regulations"

It does not require you to fly the US flag and it does not forbid you from displaying a foreign flag. For example, someone with Irish heritage may proudly fly an Irish flag and is not required to fly the US flag.

I mean, its not like it looks anyway tacky as I would be the first to remove it if it was, its actually quite nice.

J

No, you couldn't. Not if your HOA requires you to fly it along with the foreign flag. You're required to abide by the CC&Rs, or you face some pretty hefty (financial) penalties.

Whether it looks lnice or not, you desecrated both flags. That's really rather rude.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

People, rude or not, defacing or not, the POINT is the HOA, unless specifically forbidding such actions in their covenents, has no authority to exercise control over a federal law.

So, again, what does the CC&R say WORD FOR WORD about flying a flag or two. NOT the letter you received.

 

[-Irish in US-]

Re: HOA Rules & Restrictions

I have read the full 35 pages of the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions for my Association and no where does it mention that I cant fly a flag actually the word flag does not appear anywhere.

J