Teresa Richard has been on television news several times and will probably be on many more.
Richard's son is in the military and serving in Afghanistan.
She flies the American flag in honor of her son and thousands of others in military service.
The flag, which Richard can see from her kitchen window, is a visible reminder of her son.
"It's a connection to Tony," she said.
But her Condo Association says the flag violates its "common rules" and has ordered Richard to take it down, along with the pole, after Labor Day.
If Richard does not comply the Condo Association will levy a $25 per day fine against Richard.
The Condo Association also thought the flag was too large, so the Veterans of Foreign Wars bought Richard a smaller one.
That flag was also too large, according to the Condo Association, and Richard had to buy a third flag.
Only those who currently have loved ones in the military, or loved ones who served before, understand Richard's connection to the flag.
I understand because I was an Air Force wife for more than 20 years.
My husband, a flight surgeon, went to Vietnam once to follow the medical evacuation system and a second time as commander of a U.
S.
Air Force Hospital in Pleiku.
I watched the evening news faithfully and Pleiku was often in the news.
Indeed, it was attacked.
It was a hard year.
Our daughters were young then, ages two and four, and I had to be both mother and father to them.
Every morning I awakened with a feeling of dread.
Would my husband come home alive?Would this be the day I received the phone call?Years later, I realize that I was going through anticipatory grief -- a feeling of loss before a death or dreaded event occurs.
Though she may not recognize it, Teresa Richard is going through anticipatory grief.
Seeing the flag from her window is reassuring and helps her to cope with her feelings.
When Teresa and her son talk Tony asks, "Is my flag still flying?" The Condo Association members could show more compassion, it seems to me.
They should be proud of a mother and son who care enough about their country to fly the flag that symbolizes it.
Teresa Richard deserves to fly the American flag "in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
" Copyright 2007 by Harriet Hodgson
Richard's son is in the military and serving in Afghanistan.
She flies the American flag in honor of her son and thousands of others in military service.
The flag, which Richard can see from her kitchen window, is a visible reminder of her son.
"It's a connection to Tony," she said.
But her Condo Association says the flag violates its "common rules" and has ordered Richard to take it down, along with the pole, after Labor Day.
If Richard does not comply the Condo Association will levy a $25 per day fine against Richard.
The Condo Association also thought the flag was too large, so the Veterans of Foreign Wars bought Richard a smaller one.
That flag was also too large, according to the Condo Association, and Richard had to buy a third flag.
Only those who currently have loved ones in the military, or loved ones who served before, understand Richard's connection to the flag.
I understand because I was an Air Force wife for more than 20 years.
My husband, a flight surgeon, went to Vietnam once to follow the medical evacuation system and a second time as commander of a U.
S.
Air Force Hospital in Pleiku.
I watched the evening news faithfully and Pleiku was often in the news.
Indeed, it was attacked.
It was a hard year.
Our daughters were young then, ages two and four, and I had to be both mother and father to them.
Every morning I awakened with a feeling of dread.
Would my husband come home alive?Would this be the day I received the phone call?Years later, I realize that I was going through anticipatory grief -- a feeling of loss before a death or dreaded event occurs.
Though she may not recognize it, Teresa Richard is going through anticipatory grief.
Seeing the flag from her window is reassuring and helps her to cope with her feelings.
When Teresa and her son talk Tony asks, "Is my flag still flying?" The Condo Association members could show more compassion, it seems to me.
They should be proud of a mother and son who care enough about their country to fly the flag that symbolizes it.
Teresa Richard deserves to fly the American flag "in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
" Copyright 2007 by Harriet Hodgson
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