A man is upset after his apartment complex in Greeley, Colorado, asked him to take his American flag down from his balcony.
Samuel Adams thought he would hang the flag in honor of his family members who served in the military ahead of the July 4 holiday.
Adams told The Greeley Tribune he received a letter from his complex's management Wednesday:
Please be advised that it has come to management's attention that you have an American flag on the balcony/patio area. Your signed Community Policies states, 'The use of balconies and patios for the purpose of storage and/or laundry drying is prohibited. Breezeways are not to be used as a patio or storage. Please do not clutter with personal belongings. Balconies and patios must be maintained in a neat, clean and attractive condition. Outdoor and/or patio furniture is welcomed on your patio or balcony only. Gasoline and other hazardous materials are not to be stored in your apartment or storage area. Retain from having dead plants, boxes or garbage on balcony/patios at any time.' We appreciate your prompt attention and cooperation in this matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact myself or the office. Thank you.
Upset, Adams recorded a video and uploaded it to YouTube to express his anger at the notice.
"I have never done anything like this before," he told The Greeley Tribune, "but it was the right time and it was the right moment. I wanted to be a patriotic American and give tribute to our founding fathers and our veterans, and to have (management) say the flag is inappropriate or comparable to trash is reprehensible to me."
Pamela Buchanan, community manager of the apartment complex, told The Greeley Tribune the lease residents sign does not allow balconies to be used to display decorations, banners or flags, "as there could be signs, flags or decorations that may be offensive and disruptive to the community."
Senior Regional Manager Amie Robertshaw said that the complex aims to have the community "keep uniformity in appearance in the areas visible to others."
Adams said he will continue flying his flag on the balcony, even if he gets evicted because of it.
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