Homeowners Association changes flag rule: Marine Corps flag stays

UNION, Ky. (WKRC) - From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Triple Crown, people better be careful if they pick a fight with the United States Marines.

The homeowners association of Triple Crown found that out Thursday night, February 2, after a veteran pushed back on social media when he was told he would be fined if he kept flying his Marine Corps flag. The association for the upscale development in Union, Kentucky backed down Friday, February 3.

The story blew up on Facebook overnight after the vet posted a copy of the letter telling him to pay a fine or take down the flag. Towne Properties manages Triple Crown but did not make the Homeowners Association rules. They told Local 12 News a new manager sent out about three dozen letters to residents who were violating the Homeowners Association's rules, but this one got all the attention.

The flag that Scott Wallace proudly flies outside his Triple Crown home is a Marine Corps flag. Wallace said he was a proud Marine veteran and flies it to support all vets and current troops. He said he was shocked when he got the letter Tuesday, January 31, telling him his marine flag was not permitted, only US flags. Wallace would not talk on camera Friday but several of his neighbors weighed in on the issue.

Eric Hingle was an army vet who didn't know he couldn't fly his Army flag, "Are we going to say there's no school flags or no professional sports flags or anything else? I mean you come out during football season there's Bengals flags all over the place and blow up dollars all over the yards. If we're trying to keep the neighborhood looking good I'd say that stuff shouldn't be out there."

But it is. There are Valentine's Day flags, UK flags, snowmen, even a Miami Dolphins flag. Just two blocks from Wallace's house, Dale Cammack proudly flew a US flag and a Marine Corps flag and had for 13 years. Cammack said he didn't get a letter and was dumbfounded that Wallace did.

"I can't believe in it. In the united states that they would come out with something like that. I just can't comprehend it. Just cannot believe it," said Cammack. "I would completely ignore it. I would fight it to my last breath."

It was that kind of outrage that swamped the Crestview Hills office of Town Properties with calls. Even some threats. Late Friday morning, they issued a statement:

Towne properties wholeheartedly supports all members of the United States Military and thanks them for their service. Town Properties is also obligated to support their association and rules set by the association board. The association manager has spoken with the board and it has been decided that any flag representing the United States is allowed to be flown in the community provided it is in good shape. As such, Mr. Wallace will be allowed to keep his flag displayed outside his home.
Towne Properties said the rules were not theirs, they were the Homeowner's Associations rules. They just manage the property and have to enforce the rules. Bottom line, the rule was changed. The flag was up and no fine will be levied.

Scott Wallace told Local 12 that he was satisfied that he got to keep the flag flying. He did not want to talk on camera because he  would like to let the issue cool down.