Army Sergeant wanted to display his love and patriotism for America, so he put up an American flag at home. However, he was shocked when he was “ordered” to take it down or else he would be punished for doing so.

Army Sergeant Chris Link only wanted to fly the flag because he risked his life for America. He felt that he would have the freedom to do so on behalf of his service. But his Texas homeowner’s association felt that what he did was offensive to their color scheme.

When he received the warning letter from his homeowner’s association, he was shocked. They would fine him if he did not put down the American flag that he displayed outside of his home. He felt that they didn’t realize that his service was one of the reasons why they were allowed to live freely.

During an interview with KCEN-TV, the Army Sergeant explained, “They said you couldn’t have a flagpole and so I took it off the flagpole, and then the HOA president, who lives right down the street still told me that I couldn’t fly my flag, period!” Link served the military so he wants to be proud of his service and should be allowed to fly the flag whenever he wants to. He did not appreciate the HOA presidents’ attitude towards the American flag.

This is why the warning email from the HOA was a blow to his morale. The email stated that putting up a flagpole is a violation of the association’s rules. It also said that the flag was too patriotic and a clear violation of their rules. The HOA president also reiterated that the flag can only be displayed on particular days like Veterans Day, Labor Day, Flag Day, and Memorial Day. But for regular days for the rest of the year, the HOA bans these flags and if anyone violates their rules would be fined.

Link continued to explain, “That flag means more to me than a lot of people realize. That’s the only reason I joined the Army – was to fight for my country, because I love that flag and everything that flag stands for.”

So the Army Sergeant decided that if his HOA did not want him to fly the flag on a flagpole outside his home, he would just hang it from his porch instead. He then educated the HOA that it was his right to display the flag. That nobody could stop him from doing it. According to Link, he is protected by the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 which was passed through Congress when President Bush was still in office.

But instead of agreeing with him, the HOA argued demanding that he will not be allowed to “display your flag.” The HOA added that they have already have gone through several cases such as this. “Please remove it, or I will have your fine sent out today,” the HOA president warned.

To add to the situation, the HOA president is not the only one who wanted for him to remove the flag. Even the owner of the home that he was renting also warned him to take the flag down.

To support the Army Sergeant, his other neighbors also raised their flags.