A Florida veteran is suing his homeowners association (HOA) for $1 million after he was forced to sell his home over a 17-inch American flag he kept in a front porch flower pot.

Former U.S. Air Force air traffic controller Larry Murphree started incurring fines of $100 a day for an “unauthorized object” from the HOA at Tides Condominium in Sweetwater, Florida, in 2011, reported The Washington Post. The ensuing struggle with the 55-and-older community caused Murphree to sell his home in 2015.

“It just dawned on me there’s people that strap on a gun every day to protect me and the people I love,” Murphree told Fox News. “It’s a small flag, but it stands for a big thank you.”

Murphree would not remove the flag and lawyered up 10 days after the first fine in 2011, reported the Washington Examiner. He filed a lawsuit in federal court and reached a compromise with the HOA that let him keep the flag in the flower pot in 2012.  Read more:

http://www.ccfj.net/HOAFLVetSues$1Mill.html