Standing against big government and for the people!

Remember the guy who wouldn't take the flag down?

Remember the guy who wouldn't take the flag down?

You might remember a news story several months ago about a crotchety old man who defied his homeowners association and refused to take down the flagpole on his property and the large flag that flew on it

Now you can find out who, exactly, that old man was.

On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg -- probably didn't

make much news back then.

Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano , Italy , Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the US Army in 1940, set out to flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned with 17 prisoners of war.

If that wasn'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 Congressional Medal of Honor.

What did make news was a neighborhood association's quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be flown on a house mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were unsuitable.

He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court action if he didn't take it down. Since the story made national TV, the neighborhood association has rethought its position and agreed to indulge this old hero who dwells among them.

"In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference," Barfoot told The Associated Press.

As well he should.

And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him, they might want to read his Medal of Honor citation. It indicates he's not real good at backing down.

Van T. Barfoot's Medal of Honor citation:

This 1944 Medal of Honor citation, listed with the National Medal of Honor

Society, is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry:

WE ONLY LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE...

BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE! AND, BECAUSE OF OLD MEN LIKE VAN BARFOOT.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ruth Ann Wilson on July 6, 2011 at 8:30am

Walk circumspectly, for the days are evil.

Political parties hope we forget what candidates did, when it was in the "power of their hand to do it." Then when it is "convenient" we are supposed to forget what they did?????

If they made a mistake, REPEAL, turn from those "bad ideas", but to try to cover these violations of the Constitution and our Good, OLD Immigration Laws and build on a "crumbling foundation", Hasn't this caused much of our TROUBLE in this Beloved Country???????

Get right or Get out.

For God & Country

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Permalink Reply by Katie Kalpin on July 5, 2011 at 2:40pm

God Bless this wonderful HERO!! I am so glad that he has won this battle and those that whine about it can go Shove it!! I am so Proud of him for doing the right thing! May the rest of his Journey be a Blessed one. He has saved many lives and he is a true American Patriot. Anyone who is in the Military should have special privs! He is a true man of honor! God Bless...THE USA and may God Bless this WONDERFUL MAN!!

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Permalink Reply by Barry McCurry on July 5, 2011 at 4:17pm

Fly it high and proud Col. Van Barfoot!!! We're all behind you!!

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Permalink Reply by di - OR on July 5, 2011 at 5:14pm

Now that's the definition of a patriot, what a very fine man he is, we should all have that outlook of NOT backing down against this commie take over of our country, the loss of our freedoms that he fought for!

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Permalink Reply by Ron Bolt on July 5, 2011 at 7:30pm

Thanks for a brief history of this amazing man. I reckon they should rename the whole area with his name, or at least the street. He should live out his days with the honor and respect of all of us.