General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf you are active duty/retired military, PLEASE don't be this guy:
Virginia Beach veteran found guilty in American flag dispute with neighborJohn Parmele Jr. admitted he learned an expensive lesson. But he defended why he stole two American flags from his neighbor. The Navy vet said he took them from Mike Anderson last month because they were flown at night without being illuminated.
I regret I did it now, the 73-year-old said. But I will not apologize because Mr. Anderson disrespects the flag. He disrespects veterans and he disrespects all Americans.
District Court Judge Teresa Hammons found Parmele guilty Monday of trespassing, petty larceny and intentional damage to a monument after Anderson presented photos and video of the crime being committed. The judge suspended a 90-day jail sentence and ordered Parmele to reimburse Anderson $99.98 for the stolen items. She also ordered Parmele to stay off his neighbors property and to remain on good behavior for two years.
Anderson, who was accompanied in court by four other neighbors from the cul-de-sac in Laurel Cove where he and Parmele live, said he was pleased with the outcome but declined to discuss it. Parmele told the judge he took the flags because he could not put up with Anderson flying them against the federal flag code, which states that if a flag is not taken down at night, it should be illuminated. The code, however, is not enforceable.
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http://pilotonline.com/news/local/crime/virginia-beach-veteran-found-guilty-in-american-flag-dispute-with/article_0d13cd64-d191-5563-b4f0-1c1f8736ce6d.html
MadDAsHell
(2,067 posts)Please do not tell those who are how to think, feel, or act.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)please take it in the spirit in which it was intended...
And I'm the grandson of a veteran too, thank you very much.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I don't care if he's the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he's an asshole to trespass on his neighbor's property and steal.
mnhtnbb
(31,392 posts)If you read to the end of the article it says the guy has cancer and has maybe a year left to live.
You almost have to feel sorry for someone who can't think of a better way to spend his last year of
life than pestering his neighbors about flags and garbage cans.
Sad.
Person 2713
(3,263 posts)vi5
(13,305 posts)Funny, I thought the flag was something that represented the country and all it's citizens and not just those who were veterans or who had served.
You learn something new every day I guess.