HOA threatens American flag-flying homeowners as they fight for Old Glory before nation’s 250th birthday

As Americans hole to observe the nation's 250th birthday, homeowners successful an upscale Southern California assemblage accidental they're being threatened with fines for flying Old Glory.

Residents successful San Marcos, whose townhome assemblage is governed by the Ambiance Owners Association, are refusing to region American flags displayed extracurricular their homes contempt notices from the homeowners association.

Real property websites amusement townhomes successful the assemblage are valued astatine conscionable nether $1 million.

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Amy and Chris Cooke are warring to support their American emblem extracurricular their location successful San Marcos, California. (John Putman)

Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital amusement the quality dates backmost astatine slightest 3 years. In May 2023, the HOA notified 1 homeowner that sports flags were prohibited portion stating that "the American emblem is the lone approved emblem to beryllium hung connected and wrong communal property."

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By May 2026, however, the HOA issued Amy and Christopher Cooke a usurpation announcement alleging the American emblem mounted extracurricular their location violated the association's emblem argumentation and directing them to region the emblem equine wrong 15 days oregon look enforcement action.

Neighbor Terri Collins besides received a usurpation announcement implicit the American emblem displayed extracurricular her location and said she's prepared to combat the HOA alongside the Cookes.

Terri Collins said her homeowners relation is trying to unit her to region her American flag. (John Putman)

"The travel has been agelong and hard, and we are acceptable to enactment an extremity to it erstwhile and for all," Collins told Fox News Digital.

Amy Cooke told Fox News Digital the contention began aft different nonmigratory attempted to alert a San Diego Padres flag, prompting the HOA to revisit its emblem rules.

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"Both American flags had been flying astir present for decades without issue," Cooke said. "The information is it's astir the American flag, distinctly."

Cooke said she laughed erstwhile she archetypal received announcement that the HOA considered her American emblem to beryllium successful violation.

"My archetypal absorption was, 'No,'" she said. "'Wait a minute, this isn't legal.'"

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According to Cooke, the emblem has flown from her store doorway framework for much than 20 years successful grant of her husband's grandfather, who was killed successful World War II portion rescuing chap sailors. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart.

Christopher and Amy Cooke are battling their homeowners relation to alert their American emblem extracurricular their location successful San Marcos, California. (John Putman)

Cooke contends the HOA has repeatedly failed to explicate wherefore it considers her store doorway framework to beryllium communal country alternatively than exclusive-use communal country nether the association's governing documents.

In a June 19 missive to the HOA obtained by Fox News Digital, the Cookes requested committee gathering minutes adopting the emblem policy, records supporting the HOA's mentation of the property's communal areas and the authorization it relied upon successful issuing the violation. They besides asked that their disciplinary proceeding beryllium postponed until those records were produced, penning that the aforesaid questions "remain unanswered."

Cooke said she and her hubby person spent astir 2 years researching national and California law, gathering HOA records, corresponding with the HOA and preparing for what they judge could go a lengthy ineligible battle.

The mates has since launched an online fundraiser to assistance screen lawyer fees, tribunal costs and different ineligible expenses if the quality heads to court.

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Terri Collins stands with her American emblem astatine her location successful San Marcos, California. (John Putman)

"This isn't astir refusing to travel tenable rules," Cooke wrote connected the fundraising page. "We judge this is astir preserving the close to show the American emblem successful our ain assemblage and ensuring that HOA rules are enforced reasonably and consistently."

Cooke said immoderate wealth remaining aft ineligible expenses would beryllium donated to patriotic organizations oregon causes supporting Gold Star subject families.

The homeowners' combat has besides attracted attraction from ineligible advocates.

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Christopher and Amy Cooke basal adjacent their American emblem successful San Marcos, California. (John Putman)

"California instrumentality is clear. While homeowners associations whitethorn follow tenable rules governing the manner, placement, oregon information of emblem displays, they cannot prohibit homeowners from flying the American emblem connected their ain property," Courtney Corbello, counsel astatine the Center for American Liberty, told Fox News Digital.

"No homeowner should beryllium threatened with fines for respectfully displaying the emblem of the state they love, particularly connected the eve of America's 250th birthday. A broad argumentation that sweeps successful longstanding emblem displays and punishes residents alternatively of pursuing tenable solutions is apt to look superior ineligible scrutiny. HOAs cannot bully homeowners into taking down the Stars and Stripes."

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The contention has besides reached the governmental arena.

"What is incorrect with these people? We are conscionable astir to observe the 250th day of our country," California gubernatorial campaigner Steve Hilton told the California Post.

"One of the astir beauteous and magnificent things astir America is the mode we amusement our emotion of our state unneurotic each the time. ... And present these tin-pot bureaucrats astatine immoderate ridiculous HOA privation to trample connected our emblem and stifle nationalist pridefulness astatine this of each moments? What a clump of anti-American losers."

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Hilton urged residents to disregard the HOA's demands and respond by displaying adjacent much American flags successful solemnisation of America's 250th birthday.

Cooke said the quality has already had a ripple effect passim the neighborhood.

Amy Cooke holds an American emblem extracurricular her San Marcos, California, home. (John Putman)

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"We person flags going up and down emotionally, which is truly sad," she said. "Just alert the flag. It shouldn't beryllium an affectional decision."

She said she hopes the lawsuit encourages different homeowners not to beryllium intimidated by their HOAs.

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"Stand up for what you judge in. Show immoderate pridefulness successful your state and admit what America gives you," Cooke said.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the Ambiance Owners Association and the San Marcos mayor's bureau for comment.