Dallas, Texas (The Weekly Vice) -- Frank Larison, a disabled vet who served for more than 14 years in the U.S. Marines has a new fight on his hands - an attack by his homeowner's association over military decals on his car.
"To me, it's being patriotic and it shows that I served," said Frank, who recently received a letter from the HOA threatening to tow his vehicle over the decals.
The isn't an issue of having stickers on your car. In fact, most residents within the association have them. The issue, according to the board, is that the decals are deemed to be "advertisements".
The HOA board stated in the letter that the decals violate HOA rules and that the decals must be covered or removed. If Larison doesn't comply, the board threatened to have his vehicle towed away at his own expense. The letter also threatened a $50 fine for future incidents.
Larimore insisted the decals, which celebrate his service as a Marine, aren't advertisements. "You can't buy freedom," he argued.
Some neighbors are angered by the HOA's action.
"That is his identity. He goes to a lot of the veteran meetings and it means a lot to him. Everyone else agrees with it - it doesn't bother anybody," said neighbor Mary Castagna.
"He's in the Marines and he's proud of it and I don't blame him," said neighbor Paul Hardy. "If I'd gone through what he's gone through, I'd be kind of proud of it myself."
Larison's neighbors have good reason to be alarmed. Many of them have decals as well. Some of the decals found on vehicles parked within the community included an Obama sticker, a business sticker and a cancer cause sticker to name a few.
To stress the point, think of how many vehicles have a sticker on the back advertising the name of the dealership who sold the vehicle. All seemingly less important to the HOA than a Marines sticker.
One board member tracked down by a reporter said he was unaware the letter was sent out. He also stated that he wasn't aware of any problem with Larimore's vehicle.
"I haven't seen this," he said while reading the letter. "I will be looking into it."
The Weekly Vice Opinion:
You all already know what my opinion will be. It's obvious that some begrudged anti-military weasel cried to a buddy on the board and the letter was sent out before half the board even heard the complaint.
This is precisely why I loath homeowner's associations. City ordinances usually clamp down on most neighborhood issues - so these associations justify their existence by becoming political tools or a means to harass a neighbor someone doesn't like.
I've reported on several HOA harassment issues, but this one really pushes my buttons. I think Larimore may even have a case to sue the association. But if Larimore is anything like the vets I know, that would likely be the furthest thing from his mind.
Stand tall Frank Larison. With or without those decals, we know what kind of man you are.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://www.theweeklyvice.com
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25 comments:
As an American I'm on this mans side, we have honored our troops every day since 9/11 but what about past wars and conflicts, this man is proud to have been in service and he has every right to have that displayed on his vehicle, How can a sticker for our United States military be advertisement when you arent paying to be in service, you put your life on the line so everyone else in your country can keep their freedom, they pay you to do that service, I think that if his HOA takes his car he should sue the living crap out of all of them for it and i betcha a million bucks this man would win. Frank Larison you are in no way wronging anyone or any law so do not step down from this without the fight it deserves.
This kind of crap is precisely the reason I'll never live in an area with an association.
Whoever sent this letter out should be ashamed of themselves.
Mr. Frank Larison, please do not let them try to put you down or make you feel that you haven't earned the right to place those decals on your car. There are many people out there that don't know what it's like to stand beside a brother-in-arms to defend the rights and freedoms of their country. We need so many more people like you because it's idiots like these that don't know the REAL price of freedom. Their more worred about the details and missing the big picture. The HOA members, or whoever wrote the letter, have no idea that it's because of you that they are able to sit in their nice cozy homes and do nothing better than try to bring you down. Thank you Mr. Larison for your service and for what you did so that I can have the freadom, the pride, and the right to be a proud American.
The fine state of Texas where they made a lady take down her American flag on memorial day because it was offensive. Why am I not surprised.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522659,00.html?test=latestnews
As for the HOA deport their commie asses.
the asshole from the HOA who initiated this should be ASHAMED of themselves!!!! This man fought for that idiots freedom!! Mr. Larison, thank you for doing what you've done, us intelligent americans are grateful. as for the asswipes who want to cry over a military decal, get over it you punks.. obviously you all don't have the guts to go to war for your country so why don't you just crawl under a rock, lowlives.. show some respect to our veterans, they are in the small group of people in this country who actually deserve it..
for the life of me, why do people agree to these HOAs? for common appearance? to "protect" property values? this proves my point that fascism is rarely imposed but agreed to.
yeah, somebody is using this as a vendetta against this dude
If I lived there, I think I'd be less concerned with the gaudy bumper stickers and more concerned with the ugly Chevy HHR that was underneath them. Ugh - gross. He might as well be driving a Pontiac Aztek. There goes the neighborhood...
God and soldiers we adore
in time of danger, not before.
We live in a country where we have been granted every freedom every opportunity an individual can possibly expect or hope for. We give thanks to those who guard these by telling them they must hide their pride as if they are ashamed
My boyfriend was in the Air Force for twenty-two years and recently we purchased a beautiful house in a great neightborhood, with a homeowners association. He talked about buying a flag to hang out front but was concerned it might be against the rules.
In my opinion, anyone who might be offended or object to someone showing pride in their country and those who defend it should consider moving somewhere else, where they might realize how lucky we all really are to have these brave men and women on our sides.
We have proudly hung our flag and waited for a reaction. A couple weeks later we got one... across the street, a neighbor hung a flag in front of his house. The problem is, we need enough people willing to stand up for what's right. It starts with one, but others will follow.
Frank, you've got every right to display your Marine Pride! OORAH!
HOA groups are so full of crap. My Air Force veteran hubby and I lived in a condo many years ago, and had a display of beautiful, hand-made colored glass bottles from around the world that we put in a sunny window. Our neighbors all liked it, some even wanting to know where they could get some of these botles. The idiots on the HOA, however wrote us an insipid little letter stating that we had to take the display down as "two of the bottles are wine bottles and we feel that this promotes alcoholism among the children". REALLY - they actually wrote that! We told them to go to hell, and dared them to try and take us to court over that. They backed down, like the useless pantywaists they are.
All I have to say is THANK YOU MR. LARSEN!! My 3 grandfathers (1 Step), father, aunt, uncle, and several cousins have severed in our countries various military institutions, and I am now and will be FOREVER GREATFULL to the sacrificies, along with the emotional and physical trauma you and all military personal have gone threw to ensure our freedoms. Freedom isn't free ppl!! I hope the HOA sends this man a letter of apology for their thoughtlessness!!!! Again Thank you for your greatly valued service in the protection of our great nation!!!
Most HOAs are full of self-righteous assholes who have nothing better to do than harrass their homeowners over b.s. This, however, is asinine. I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. Is there anything this man can do?
I haven't lived in the US for almost eight years. But, I am still proud to be an American.
I do hope and pray that this isn't the way our country is headed.
We had a get together yesterday in Cebu City. I met a group of young marines who were on leave in the city. They had dropped by the restaurant we were at, during the meeting.
I made it a point, as did others in our group, to shake their hands, buy them a beer, and thank them for their service to our country.
Although I have never served, our military personnel have my respect, and my support, forever.
Mr. Larsen, give 'em hell.
- Paul Petrea, Cebu Province, Philippines
HOA President out of town and unavailable for comment?
Of course he/she is...
I work with the Dallas law firm that is representing Mr. Larison pro bono and had to take a moment to express our gratitude for your support. The attorney has submitted a letter to the HOA placing them on legal notice and sternly warning the association that we are ready to take whatever legal action is necessary on behalf of Mr. Larison to remedy the problem. We have yet to hear from the HOA. Let me know if you'd like for me to keep you posted.
Shame on the Home Owner Assocation!! They are here in the USA safe & sound, eating what they like & shopping where they want because we have veterans like Frank who have made this possible for all within the USA!!
Cesar D,
Please do keep us posted I for one really want to see the outcome on this.
Semper Fi
Well, Mr. Larison and his attorney Michael Burns appeared on Kyra Phillips' CNN show yesterday afternoon. When Kyra drilled the HOA board member who phoned in about why they appeared to be targeting Mr. Larison and not the other residents who also had stickers on their vehicles, the board member simply had no response. He did say they it was not b/c of they military stickers - saying the HOA supported the troops. What gets me is that he also offered NO APOLOGY and maintain that he truly felt the patriotic stickers were a violation of the HOA rules. CHANGE THE RULES!! Both Mr. Larison and our firm have been overwhelmed by phones of praise. Again, thank you for your support. We will continue this worthly fight.
The rules ban advertisements. Like a roofing company advertisement in your front yard...
That in and of itself isn't so bad and there's a good purpose behind it. The HOA doesn't want front yards cluttered with ads.
But the HOA in this instance has twisted the rule far beyond it's intent - and in doing so specifically singled out this vet.
Other residence all had stickers of one kind or another on their vehicles. It comes as no surprise they had no issues with the Obama sticker.
Everyone who attacks a vet always says out of the other side of their mouth "we support the troops"
HOA president, I don't believe you support anything but what's in your own mind. You are a disgrace and a lying sack of shit.
What makes me angry is that the HOA President actually thinks people are so stupid, they'll buy this crap.
HOA President, I'll meet you for I.Q exam any time of your choosing.
My gentleman friend spilt his blood on a battlefield in Afghanistan less than six months ago so this asshat President of an HOA could send out such an asinine letter. Mr. HOA President, I would like to invite you to my home for dinner. You can meet one of the good & decent men you claim to support. Maybe he'll even tell you about the two honorable men who died next to him that day. Come on over and my little family will educate you on what a good man is. The freedom of speech you enjoy applies to Mr. Larison just as it applies to you. Actions speak louder than words. He fought for his country & our collective rights as Americans. What have you fought for, other than the right to silence an American Vet?
Mr. Larison, Thank you sir for your service and sacrifice. It would be a great honor to shake the hand of an American hero such as you. If they take away your bumperstickers, speak out here & I'll send you a flag to fly from your front porch.
Hoo-rah! Semper Fi
Thank you Mr. Larison - not only for defending our country, but for standing up for vets everywhere who are harassed and looked down upon by the very people who tell the world "we support our troops"
Thank you to the neighbors who are standing by Frank.
Danny you are right. Most cars have dealer decals on the vehicle. What is the HOA's response to that? That surely is advertising.
The hypocracy here is so blatant and outlandish. Does anyone know the name of the HOA president. His/her name should be published.
I've never quite understoo the HOA thing. My mum is in one, and hey make me park outside the condos when I visit- even though my mum has a drive way! But seriously, how can HOAs be constitutional? I mean, we can't be forced into, or out of, labor unions, so why is it acceptable to be refused housing unless you agree to join their little "club"?
I whole heartedly support Mr.Larison and thank him for his service and continued support for our country and our military.
It seems to be almost the trendy thing to do these days to down our military service members or to try to take them down and try to make them feel ashamed of their service to our great country. The HOA acts as though his vehicle was wallpapered with Marine Recruitment posters.
I wish there was some way to organize all the military members, families ect. whose vehicles also are emblazoned with their pride to drive through his neighborhood, park in the guest parking ect to show their support of Mr. Larison. There is strength in numbers after all. I even wish I could participate in such an event.
Semper Fi,
Marine Master Sergeant's Wife
HOA's President FINALLY speaks out to Reporter James Ragland from the Dallas Morning News yesterday afternoon. She was quoted as saying, "We haven't had a ruckus like this since I've lived here that I know of," said Hardy, who moved into the property right after it was built 27 years ago. "It's B.S., that's what it is." Here's the link to the full interview! http://www2.quickdfw.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/062509dnmethoa.3ce2eea.html
The "politically correct", but brain dead pre-programmed "robots" strikes again! Expect a lot more of this crazy shit now that Obama heads up "big brother"!
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