Those who know me well know that one of my major passions outside of my family, my faith and ballroom dancing, happens to be baseball. My youngest boy (right) learned this last year when I took him to his first baseball game. One of the things I love the most is the opening part of the game when they play the national anthems. The thrill of “The Star Spangled Banner” sends a chill through me even 25 years later.

It gives me reason to pause and gives me thanks for a number of reasons. First, I give thanks to those who served in uniform before me – who through their sacrifice – sometimes the ultimate sacrifice, have allowed for us to continue to enjoy the blessings of freedom we have today, despite the efforts of those in Congress (many of whom never served a day in uniform – no surprise there, folks!) who seek to take those freedoms away from us yet keep them for themselves.

Perhaps what bothers me the most about all this is the flap going on in Florida right now involving former 64-year old Marine (seal, left) George Andres, whose desire and decision to fly the flag of the United States now has his homeowner’s association initiating foreclosure procedures against him because Andres refuses to pay the homeowners association some $30,000 in fines and penalties they have levied against him and which Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Catherine Brunson has ruled against Andres – twice.

At this point, a little background is in order. In 2000, Andres erected a flagpole in his yard that was 12 feet high and that was when the fight with his homeowners association began. Why Andres bought a home in an area that has a homeowners association as part and parcel of the purchase is beyond me. Most people I know have heard sufficient horror stories about these goon outfits that it surprises me that any homeowners associations still exist anywhere in the civilized world. But, I digress.

The association has taken this spiteful action despite the passage of a Florida law that prohibits homeowners associations from restricting the display of the American flag by property owners subject to certain conditions, both of which Andres meets. Nevertheless, these petty, little, and completely vindictive people are more than bent – they are obsessed in making an example out of George Andres – despite that unlike Mr. Andres, many of them have probably never served a day in uniform either. They have no concept of liberty or freedom or what it takes to defend a nation the way either Mr. Andres or myself or anyone else who has worn a uniform does. Because of that, those of us who do know what these things mean, are now having to be subject to the whims of those who don’t – and that’s a tragedy – for all of us.

“Semper Fidelis” – Always Faithful – the Marine Corps Motto. George Andres has proven his fidelity to his country through faithful service as a Marine. He should not be rewarded for his patriotism by his “homeowners association” by being driven out on a rail by a bunch of elitist, prejudicial snobs.

And people want to know why I don’t care for co-ops …