HOUSTON – It started with a simple request: A military veteran wished to see an American flag waving in the wind at the entrance to his Richmond neighborhood.
“The American flag is a symbol of our freedom and the American way of life,” said Ryan Andrasek, who lives in the Fieldstone subdivision.
But Andrasek, who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11, soon learned putting the Stars and Stripes on display wouldn’t be so easy.
“It was really disgusting,” Andrasek said.
There are two flagpoles at the entrance to Fieldstone, and Andrasek says the community’s developer didn’t want the homeowners association to put up an American flag -- only red Fieldstone flags, which are part of his marketing campaign.
“And he said that he was not going to allow us to do that because he was in the business of selling homes,” Andrasek said.
Being the free country that this is, it didn’t take long for upset residents to speak out.
“We’re the residents, we’re the homeowners and we have a voice,” said Rick Garcia.
Wednesday afternoon, it appeared the voices were heard, as crews switched out one of the red Fieldstone flags for an American flag. It’s a welcome sight that means so much, especially to those who served.
“I’m proud to be an American,” Andrasek said.