[Bernie1]

At a time when we pause to honor all those who gave their lives that we can live with the freedoms we enjoy I can find no greater disrespect then for someone to desecrate our flag and liberties.
Install your camera, fly your flags, this person is ignorant and will return because they are ignorant, they try to intimidate and bully through force to get their way. But this person is the worst of bully’s because they come in the night and sneak like a rat. They have no honor and give no respect. I would gladly stand by your side to defend our rights provided by our forefathers.[

[meridian5850]

Originally Posted by vison34

I totally agree that what was done was cowardly and wrong. What I wonder, is it then OK to use this flagpole as a political campaign advertisement? Think about it. Is not that what Trump 2020 is. Forget billboards and signs and just get a flag?

Political speech is protected speech and his Trump flag was flying below the American flag.

His first sentence. "I have an American flag with a Trump flag under it in the center of my flower garden."

[Nell57]

It was so wrong that this happened to you, and that you have to incur the cost of a new flagpole.
There are a thousand American flags being proudly displayed today that were NOT vandalized. So an American flag on a flagpole seems safe, and I would replace it.
I would display my Trump flag inside my window, also keeping it safe.
Thank you for your service, and God Bless America on this day honoring Patriots.

[haysus7]

I’m no Trumper but I am sorry that happened to you.

[LeeM]

Originally Posted by vison34

I totally agree that what was done was cowardly and wrong. What I wonder, is it then OK to use this flagpole as a political campaign advertisement? Think about it. Is not that what Trump 2020 is. Forget billboards and signs and just get a flag?

I also feel it's a campaign advertisement. But if you have an approved pole apparently you can wave a HOUSE FOR SALE sign under your American flag if you wanted to. Is that right? Not in my opinion but it's allowed here.

[Doug_from_Hershey]

I hope they catch him and his punishment is 90 days working in the Veteran's Hospital.

[EviesGP]

All I can say is, I moved here, because it was advertised as "Florida's Friendliest Hometown". And I/we were overwhelmed by the people who greeted us and welcomed us, in both the squares and the neighborhood(s). We were sold. Then...this stuff. Between the trolls going around reporting on petty things, and this destruction. Well, suffice it to say, if you do that to my property, and I catch you(which I will), I won't be calling the police. Enough said! Happy Memorial Day to all others.

[catlady1955@aol.com]

I am upset every time I see one of those Trump flags because before I moved here I asked about putting political signs on my property. The Villages sales agent said it was against district guidelines for anything displayed past the front of my home. Window signs OK but not lawn.
So every person who gets away with flying aTrump flag tells me that there are 2 standards here. That is wrong!

I also believe that destruction of another person’s personal property is terrible. That is very wrong.

[Love2Swim]

Originally Posted by anothersteve

So.....no one should have an opinion or .....God forbid..express their opinion?
Steve

Why would you want to flaunt your opinion when you know that kind of talk divides people? You realize that just because you might have a Trump or Biden flag in your window it won't change anyone's mind about who they will vote for? So what purpose does it serve? All it does is intentionally rile people up.

[LeeM]

Originally Posted by Gobragh

Sorry to hear about your flag destruction. No one should do that to another persons property.

Here are two flag etiquette that not everyone knows ....
1. According to the Flag Code, it is never acceptable to fly a company flag, corporate banners or other form of branding/advertising on the same pole as the US Flag; you will need to have a separate flagpole to display both flags at one time.

2. For Memorial Day According to the US Flag Code:
Flags are at half staff until noon only, at which point they are raised to full staff.
The half-staff position remembers the men and women who gave their lives in service of their country.
At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

God Bless America!

That is interesting to read on the flag code. Thanks for sharing that.

[drstevens]

Sad! Maybe what happened to your pole will happen to this sick person.

[robertj1954]

Originally Posted by TimeForChange

I have an American flag with a Trump flag under it in the center of my flower garden. This morning some idiot pulled the flag pole over, broke the golden ball on top and damaged my pole that I just repaired. I guess I can see getting mad and pulling some home owners pole over but they also just disrespected a US flag on Memorial day weekend. Some are really sick. As a disabled veteran I am ashamed and hurt that we have come to this point.

I am sorry to hear this happened to you and on Memorial Day. There is a very small percentage of people who have no respect for themselves. That is why they are disrespectful to others.

People have a right to voice an opinion. They have a right to dislike President Trump. They do not have a right to destroy other people’s property. Thankfully, it’s a very small number of people living in The Villages. Memorial Day is about fallen Americans who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Sad that small percentage of people cannot understand what that means. God Bless

[remarks006]

Originally Posted by TimeForChange

I have an American flag with a Trump flag under it in the center of my flower garden. This morning some idiot pulled the flag pole over, broke the golden ball on top and damaged my pole that I just repaired. I guess I can see getting mad and pulling some home owners pole over but they also just disrespected a US flag on Memorial day weekend. Some are really sick. As a disabled veteran I am ashamed and hurt that we have come to this point.

Sorry to hear about your pole etc. being vandalized, I’m ashamed of Americans too, seems both sides have idiots .
I’m too old and settled to move to another country , and the USA , is still better than some , but we are not even Close to being the GREATEST 😡

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Eclas

I can't believe some people think like you do.

I'd say MOST people think as I do, which is why you don't see pictures of candidates waved prominently on flagpoles throughout the Villages.

In some countries, that sort of thing is required. But those are the dictatorships. No one wants to be reminded of dictatorships - especially in a country that is, allegedly, not a dictatorship.

I do not want to see "fearless leader" flying around on my neighbor's lawn every time I come and go from my own house. It is inappropriate in THIS country, and I don't care who the leader is.

[Cranford61]

Originally Posted by soniak4@gmail.com

I also am not a Trump fan at all however, what happened to your property is not right. You have a right to support whoever you want because this is America. You also have the right to your property and that must be respected. Please report this incident to the police and have them investigate.

Just don’t put the wrong color paint on your house nor a little white cross in your friend yard garden.