Van T Barfoot died

[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial] [B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Van T Barfoot died...[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

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[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial][CENTER][CENTER][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Remember the Guy who wouldn't take[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]The flag pole Down on his Virginia Property a[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [FONT=serif]

[/FONT][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]While back? You might Remember the news story several Months ago About a crotchety old man in[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Virginia who Defied his local Homeowners Association, And refused to take down the[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Flag pole on His property along with the large[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]American flag He flew on it.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Now we learn Who that old man was.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]On [/FONT][/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]June 15[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola], 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Edinburg, Texas . That probably didn't make[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]News back Then.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [FONT=serif]

[/FONT][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]But[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Twenty-five years later, on [/FONT][/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]May 23[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola], 1944, Near [/FONT][/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=sans-serif]Carano[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola], Italy ,[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [FONT=serif]

[/FONT][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]That same Van T. Barfoot,[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Who had in 1940 enlisted in the U.S. Army, set[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Out alone to Flank German machine gun[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Positions From which gunfire was raining[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Down on his Fellow soldiers.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]His advance Took him through a minefield but[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Having done So, he proceeded to single-handedly[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Take out Three enemy machine gun positions,[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Returning With 17 prisoners of war.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/CENTER]

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[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial][CENTER][CENTER][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]And if that Weren't enough for a day's work,[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]he[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [FONT=serif]

[/FONT][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Later Took on and Destroyed three German tanks[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Sent to Retake the machine gun positions.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

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[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]That probably Didn't make much news either,[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Given the Scope of the war, but it did earn[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a Colonel after[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Also serving In Korea and Vietnam , a well[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Deserved Congressional Medal of Honor.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

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[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]What did make News...Was his Neighborhood[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Association's Quibble with how the 90-year-old[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Veteran chose To fly the American flag outside[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]His suburban Virginia home. Seems the HOA rules Said it was OK to fly a flag on a house-mounted Bracket, but, For decorum, items such as [/FONT][/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=sans-serif]Barfoot's[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]21-foot[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [FONT=serif]

[/FONT][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Flagpole were "unsuitable".[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/CENTER]

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[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Van Barfoot Had been denied a permit for[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]The pole, but Erected it anyway and was facing[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Court action Unless he agreed to take it down.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

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[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Then the HOA Story made national TV,[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]And the Neighborhood Association rethought[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Its position And agreed to indulge this[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Aging hero Who dwelt among them.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

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[/FONT][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]"In the Time I have left", he said to the[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Associated Press, "I plan to continue[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]To fly the American flag without interference."[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

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[/FONT][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]As Well he should.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [FONT=serif]

[/FONT][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]And if any of his neighbors had taken a Notion to Contest him Further, they might have done well to Read his Medal of Honor citation first. Seems it Indicates Mr. Van Barfoot[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]wasn't[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [FONT=serif]

[/FONT][B][COLOR=#26282A][FONT=gabriola]Particularly Good at Backing down.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]

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We all need to remember what the "VAN's" of this country have done. Respect for this country and its symbols needs to improve.

Truly a life well lived. It was tragic, he fell and hit his head in front of his house & died 2 days later, March 2, 2012 at the age of 92.

Big salute to this brave patriot from a Korean service veteran.

God bless his soul! A true patriot and hero! And I agree respect for this country and its symbols needs to improve.

Take the American flag down ! Home owners associations take note :fighting0036:

RIP Van as you are my kind of hero :clapping:🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 [size=3]Salute[/SIZE]

Now he's a 'Real' American Hero. :clapping: A man of courage .