Retired U.S. Navy veteran John Ackert has an American flag-decorated mailbox, but his homeowner's association has ordered him to remove the flag wrap from or face a fine that could lead to a lien on his property.
Ackert got a letter last week from the Southwood Residential Community Association in Tallahassee, Florida, saying the mailbox flag wrap needed to be removed or he would face penalties, Fox News reported.
He appealed the letter and said he would not remove the flag without a fight.
“I view this as a form of bullying to be honest,” Ackert said, Fox News reported. “And I think people should stand up to bullying of any form, and particularly this.”
Ackert said his mailbox has been decorated with the flag wrap since about a month after he moved into the community four years ago.
The letter reportedly referenced the holiday season and said he could put it up 30 days before and needed to remove it 15 days after the holiday, Fox News said.
Residents are allowed to fly the American flag on a flagpole or display a portable version, as well as military flags the same sizes.
“They said my flag mailbox ‘devalues the aesthetic value of the homes in the neighborhood,’” Ackert told The Washington Post, reading from the letter he received.
Ackert was drafted for Vietman and spent 30 years in the Navy. He met his wife in Japan and they married in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and had a son, the Post reported. He moved to Florida to be near his son while he attended college there.
Twitter users decried HOAs and supported Ackert’s rights.