Fact Check: Virginia Man Who Refused to Take Down Flag Pole Honored with Congressional Medal of Honor
“Remember the guy who wouldn't take the flag pole down on his Virginia property awhile back? You might remember the news story several months ago about a crotchety old man in Virginia who defied his local Homeowners Association and refused to take down the flag pole on his property along with the large American flag he flew on it. Now we learn who that old man was. On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg, Texas . That probably didn't make news back then. But twenty five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Cyrano, Italy, That same Van T. Barfoot, who had in 1940 enlisted in the U.S. Army, set out alone to flank German machine gun positions from which gunfire was raining down on his fellow soldiers. His advance took him through a minefield but having done so, he proceeded to single-handedly take out three enemy machine gun positions, returning with 17 prisoners of war. And if that weren’t enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions. That probably didn’t make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a Colonel after also serving In Korea and Vietnam , a well deserved Congressional Medal of Honor. What did make news was his Neighborhood Association's quibble with how the 90-year-old Veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the HOA rules said it was OK to fly a flag on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were "unsuitable." Van Barfoot had been denied a permit for the pole, but erected it anyway and was facing Court action unless he agreed to take it down. Then the HOA story made national TV, and the Neighborhood Association rethought its position and agreed to indulge this aging hero who dwelt among them. "In the time I have left", he said to the Associated Press, "I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference." As well he should. And if any of his neighbors had taken a notion to contest him further, they might have done well to read his Medal of Honor citation first. Seems it Indicates Mr. Van Barfoot wasn't particularly good at backing down. If you've read this post and don't share it, - Guess what -You need your butt kicked. I share this with you because I don't want MY butt kicked anymore and I'm tired of seeing those who hate our country yet march in our streets, tear down our statues, burn our stores and loot our businesses have a free hand to do whatever they want. WE ONLY LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE! AND, BECAUSE OF BRAVE OLD MEN LIKE VAN BARFOOT!”
Summary
Van T. Barfoot, born June 15 1919 in Edinburg, Texas, earned the Medal of Honor for heroic actions on May 23 1944 near Cyrano, Italy, where he single‑handedly neutralized multiple enemy positions and captured prisoners. After a distinguished career that included service in Korea and Vietnam and retirement as a colonel, the 90‑year‑old veteran was correctly identified as the homeowner who defied his Virginia HOA’s flag‑pole rules and was allowed to keep his 21‑foot pole flying the American flag.
Sources 60 searched
- LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON LIBRARY ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION LBJ Library
Oh, I wouldn't think you'd want that way out! I haven't had one either. Now, I've been ... I've been up against the flag pole but couldn't get the flag out without pulling the ball out.
- Banned Old Flag | Snopes.com
Col. Vance T. Barfoot, veteran of three wars, was told he had to take down his flag pole because of his homeowner's asociation — even though there is no clause addressing flagpoles in the contract!
- FACT CHECK: Donald Trump's Outsized Flagpole
Trump put up his regulation-violating flag and pole without obtaining either a building permit permit or a variance from local authorities, and the Palm Beach town council accordingly fined him $1,250 (or, in some accounts, $250) for every day ...
- Remembering Van T Barfoot
Remember the Guy who wouldn't take The flag pole Down on his Virginia Property a while back? You might Remember the news story several Months ago About a crotchety old man in Virginia who Defied his local Homeowners As...
- Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly - Wikipedia
He also earned an income from endorsements, personal appearances and books about his life. He called himself "the luckiest fool in the world." He once calculated that over two decades he spent 20,613 hours sitting on flagpoles, of which 210 were in sub-freezing weather and 1400 hours in the rain. In one 1927 stunt, he climbed on a pole on a speeding biplane, sitting on a twelve-inch (30 cm) iron crossbar as the plane flew 500 feet (150 m) high.
- Bree Newsome - Wikipedia
As a presidential candidate speaking at a Martin Luther King Day 2016 celebration in Charleston, Hillary Clinton credited Newsome for taking the matter into her own hands by "shimmying up that flagpole" as a step in the process. "Every year, you've gathered right here and said that that symbol of division and racism went against everything Dr.
- Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima - Wikipedia
De Weldon could not take his eyes off the photo. In its classic triangular lines he recognized similarities with the ancient statues he had studied. He reflexively reached for some sculptor's clay and tools.
- Meet Bree Newsome, The Woman Who Removed South Carolina’s Confederate Flag | WUNC
There were two officers guarding the bottom and a supervisor came over and told them to taze me. I’m attached to this metal pole with these metal clasps and that very well could have electrocuted me.
- Van T. Barfoot died Remember the guy who wouldn't take the flag pole down on his Virginia property? | RallyPoint
You might remember the news story several months ago about a crotchety old man in Virginia who defied his local Homeowners Association, and refused to take down the flag pole on his property along with the large American flag he flew on it.
This fact check is free and donation-based. $1 powers ~30 fact-checks.
