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UPDATED: Military Vet Ordered to Remove Tiny American Flag From Patio: ‘I Saw the Flag Flying in Afghanistan, It’d Be Nice to See It Flying Here, Too’

Jan. 31, 2013 4:19pm Jason Howerton

UPDATE: Tyler Barge told TheBlaze on Friday that Riverwalk Apartments will allow him to leave his small American flag out on his patio.

“The apartment has agreed to allow the flag to remain on the patio! Riverwalk is owned by a Local Virgina based company. They were very apologetic about the whole issue and want it to be known they too support the US flag and what it stands for,” Barge wrote in an email to TheBlaze.

“I greatly appreciate all of the support that has been shown to myself and those we have lost fighting for freedom,” he added.

–

Tyler Barge describes himself as a proud military veteran. He was deployed to Afghanistan for nine months in 2011 where he served in the U.S. Army National Guard. He just returned home in March of 2012.

So, you can imagine his disgust when management at his apartment complex ordered him to remove the small American flag he had stuck into a pot of dirt on his patio.

Apartment Complex Orders Military Veteran Tyler Barge to Remove Small American Flag

(Credit: Tyler Barge)

“I like to keep a flag on display in honor of those who have died fighting for our freedom,” Barge, 22, told TheBlaze in an exclusive interview on Thursday. “I had the privilege of coming home and they didn’t. I try to do what I can to keep their memory alive.”

“I saw the flag flying in Afghanistan, it’d be nice to see it flying here too,” he added.

Barge said he received a notice from Riverwalk Apartments in Salem, Va. on Wednesday ordering him to remove the American flag, trash items, a broom and even a glass table from the patio.

“We need your help to keep our community one of the best in Salem! We need for you to remove the following items from your patio,” the notice read. It then listed the previously mentioned items. The notice went on:

Per our lease agreement we only allow the following times on your patio/balcony:

1. Patio furniture

2. Up to (3) working bicycles

3. Plants

The complex is giving Barge until Monday to remove the flag and other items.

(Credit: Tyler Barge)

As a veteran, Barge said he wanted to honor the flag, even if in a small way. He says he was well aware his lease prohibited him from hanging an American flag, so he opted to put out a small version of the flag in a pot of dirt instead. But the apartment complex is saying even that is unacceptable.

“Being a veteran and growing up with good patriotic parents, I’ve always had a flag out,” Barge told TheBlaze. “I didn’t think anything of it.”

Barge says he has served in the National Guard for nearly five years as an infantryman and is currently an E4 Specialist. He and 41 other soldiers from Virginia were deployed in June of 2011 to Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan to provide security for a multinational provincial reconstruction team.

Given the fact that the complex has only given him until Monday to comply, Barge said his wife has been trying to get in touch with the property manager to work something out so they can leave the flag on the patio. However, the property manager, identified as Tristan Byrely by the apartment complex, was “unavailable” on Wednesday and again on Thursday.

Byrely was also unavailable when TheBlaze called the Riverwalk Apartments on Thursday.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (327)

noneed4govthelp
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:39pm
I would put the flag, on my car, in the parking lot.I would put a sign, in the car window ,(with her name and number)saying write to this woman and tell her, what they think, about their flag policy.I’m sure she will get sick of hearing from people.

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Mr.Fitnah
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:30pm
I guess you cant have human beans there either.
Beings are neither Bikes furniture or plants.
Well most aren’t.

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Jamboree
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:24pm
I think if you check with a lawyer no one and no lease agreement can prohibit you from flying the American flag, even with a flag pole. Get a lawyer!

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stinkydroolface
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:23pm
Byrely, Origin immigrant,peasant farmer. Figures.

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angryconservative
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:20pm
thoroughly agree w/ “IndyGuy”. Put it where the sun don’t shine.

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markinhawaii
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:56pm
Really? I’d put a plant in the pot and let the flag stick serve as a tie for the plant.
Commie bastards

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wtfusa
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:52pm
I just emailed Riverwalk Apartments via the email link above in this article. Told them how UNPATRIOTIC they are to OUR FLAG , COUNTRY, and VETS! Use the email link instead of trying to call. Hopefully we can stop this nonsense together!

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Sharon Rose
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:51pm
This is America, I think it still is, we have every right to fly the American flag. Da@m Commies.

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Amazingoly
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:49pm
A middle finger salute would work. Taking God out of our schools, removing our crosses, and stunts against our flag are why our country is going down. We need to wake up and give them all our middle finger salute.
U.S. Army veteran

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Major Noogles
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:44pm
There’s a link to the apartment complex in the story. Go to the “Contact us” page and let THEM know how you feel. Support a vet. I did, you can, too.

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suz
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:43pm
SHAME ON YOU Riverwalk Apartments in Salem, Va.

did you know you can anagram “items” and make it “times.” Riverwalk Apartments in Salem, Va. needs a new contract because someone over there has dyslexia and mr. barge should contest his right to keep a flag on his balcony on a contractual basis. no breach!

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- suz
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:01pm
  okay, the editor has dyslexia.
  
  my bad.
  
  Report this comment
FloridaFarmGirl
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:35pm
As a fellow tax paying, law abiding gun and religion clinging American, I apologize to you Sir. You are a true patriot for serving your country. My little brother recently got back from Afganistan (sp) and was in Iraq before that, so I feel your pain. I am truly sorry that the PC people and takers have overcome our once great country. May God bless you and keep you safe. Please know that there are still a few of us out here that agree with and support you. Again, thank you Sir!!

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Beachmastermax
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:28pm
Constitutionally, property rights should be sacrosanct. I.E. you should not have to serve anyone in your resturaunt, for any reason, that you do not wish to. That being said, why would anyone eat in a resturaunt that did this, or rent from a place that asked you to remove your flag?

Freedom works every time it is tried. Morality will always prevail thru capitalism.

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buttons1
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:24pm
somebody who lives in the area where this vet lives should help him move to another property and help him put a bigger flag. what is wrong with this country? Nobody wil ever tell me i cant fly my flag. Obama you need to go and take all your liberal and some RHINO’s with you and get the hell out of this country and create your own country

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Mathchopper
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:21pm
This lib landlord needs a midnight visit.

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SolitudeBliss
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:16pm
I would always have a flower or plant arrangement with Flags in the arrangement. Can’t argue with that.

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deiernhart8
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:13pm
Get a plant and put the flag in it.

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Ted Zeppelin
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:02pm
So, put the flag in a potted plant – to hold the plant erect, an erection as it were….
Tell the manager to place his or her lips around your erection, but, don’t soil the flag…. to help water the plant.
Suggest the manager have “Obama Barack Sucker” tatooed on his or her or his/her* forehead.

* His/her is diversity to include the GLBTBP Community … Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Beastiality, Pediphile Comminity

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American-first
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:57pm
“We need your help to keep our community one of the best in Salem!

This has to be the last place on earth to live! Liberal thought and ways are at the heart of mental illness.

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Robert999
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:49pm
This is a conflict between two competing conservative principles: property rights and patriotism. Property rights come from God and are inborn in all humans, therefore in my opinion, the rights of the property owner overwhelm any American patriotic considerations.

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- Diane TX
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:23pm
  OK, but keep in mind that this guy does not own the property and leases from the owner. Having “rules” that you can’t fly an American Flag in America, does seem a bit over the top.
  
  Report this comment
bbyrdhouse
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:47pm
On the one hand I agree that this is absolutely stupid … because it is

but … on the other hand

These communist housing associations are only doing what their members have voted on and agreed to.
You give a commie progressive an inch and this is what you have to deal with.
Either change the stupid rules of the association or move somewhere where you have the freedom to fly the flag.

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TMOverbeck
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:43pm
Hmmm… they didn’t say how MANY plants… what he could probably do is buy a whole bunch of red, white and blue wildflowers and arrange them so that they form a flowery U.S. flag. :)

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EL CHOQUE
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:34pm
Okay, I admit I’ve not read the whole article & am just re-plying to the “headline” , but if anyone tried to tell me I could not fly an AMERICAN FLAG anywhere on my property, they would probably not be leaving my property on two legs! I bought & paid for my property & will PROUDLY fly the Flag of the United States Of America anywhere on it! If I flew a small flag like the one in the picture & someone said anything, I would put up one a little bigger & if they kept saying anything the the flag would be larger & larger. I, personally, am getting sick & tired of the way people (obummer voters) are trying to impose their crap on the rest of us AMERICANS!!

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- bbyrdhouse
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:53pm
  @EL CHOQUE
  Not if you were leasing the place (IE. not your property) and the rules of the community that you agreed to when you moved in state that you could not do so.
  
  The problem, is not that they are now trying to enforce this stupid rule, the problem is that this could become a rule to begin with.
  
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LBJDIDIT1963
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:34pm
The FLAG stays, the LL has to go!

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wordweaver
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:33pm
Don’t we all know by now that these bozos (apartment management) are going to lose this thing in the court of public opinion and relent and apologize ultimately. This keeps happening over and over with the same result. Knuckleheads!

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- wordweaver
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:12pm
  Yep – called it. Didn’t even take 24 hours for these guys to realize they being idiots and reverse themselves.
  
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