Mass. housing complex American-flag ban reversed after a day

A ban on the display of American flags by residents of a Massachusetts town’s housing authority was reversed Thursday.

Residents of a public housing complex in Wrentham, Mass., were outraged Wednesday when Housing Authority officials taped a letter to their doors, banning the display of U.S. flags outside their homes.

A day later, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development issued a statement calling the notice a mistake.

“We were not aware of this decision when it was made, and it was a mistake that is being corrected immediately,” department spokesman Jason Lefferts said. “The agency’s policy for local housing authorities includes not allowing displays of private materials in public areas. This does not extend to respectful and safe displays of the American flag.”


Wrentham Housing Authority Executive Director Nancy Siegel said she was told by the department to distribute the letter to residents after multiple complaints from one tenant over the Fourth of July Holiday.

“As a result,” the letter read, “all American flags must be restricted to the interior of your apartment. Flags may be visible through the apartment windows but may not be displayed on the exterior of the buildings or on the ground around the buildings.”

Barbara Marshall, 82, whose brother took part in the D-Day invasion of France, was among the residents angered by the ban.

“All of my family is so indebted to the veterans, to that flag,” she told The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro.

She said she kept the flag flying outside of her home even after receiving the letter.

The ban even drew the ire of Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who lives in Wrentham.

In a statement, Brown said he was “deeply disturbed” by the housing authority’s “misguided decision.”

“Flying the American flag should never be controversial, and no citizen should ever be prevented from doing so,” he said. 

More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook

 

Discuss this post

Why do government officials continue to do things to further the stereotype that all government employees are either lazy or stupid or both.

  • 6 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:47 PM EDT

Ban the American flag? Okay. I'll just hang up the Gadsden Flag: "Don't Tread On Me"

  • 4 votes
Reply#2 - Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:09 PM EDT

I use to be amazed at things like this, but not any more. As more and more people are moved into gubment jobs we get more people who have no ability to think or use a little commonsense.

  • 4 votes
Reply#3 - Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:35 PM EDT

This isn't the public housing project that a illegal alien female relative of a well known politician lives is it?
One tenant having that much juice makes one wonder.

  • 1 vote
Reply#4 - Thu Jul 12, 2012 7:39 PM EDT

This is an elderly / retired complex. It's more of a typical old person with too much time on their hands that complains about everything under the sun.

    #4.1 - Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:00 AM EDT

    Oh there you go The Maitre with the common sense explanation, stop thinking and just blame everything on liberals. Get with the program.

      #4.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:51 AM EDT

      Maitre, Those elderly/retired gave their lives to keep our flag flying when truth, and honor was actually a way of life, So before you start knocking the old folks you might think about the life you enjoy and stand up for the Flag.

        #4.3 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:22 AM EDT
        Reply

        Liberalism left unchecked ....

          Reply#5 - Fri Jul 13, 2012 1:56 AM EDT

          LARRY THE WARS ARE OVER. The Army dont need dumb white boys to walk down the path and clear ieds so the equipment wont get blown up. @!$%# it was you poster childs in the white house during Bush that said we will fight this war with what we got. Well Larry boy. I think the 8 million dollars might be better well spend on saftey gear for the troops All you good ol boys start a fund and sell all the tail gates off your pickups and save Nascar, Keep it what it is , inbreed

            Reply#6 - Fri Jul 13, 2012 11:32 AM EDT

            Not too sure what color you are but you are obviously pretty dumb...not even able to use spell check...lol

            • 1 vote
            #6.1 - Fri Jul 13, 2012 3:51 PM EDT
            Reply
            You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
            As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.