Resident wins battle against complex regarding American flag display

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – With July 4 almost here, a fight over the American flag is brewing in a Montgomery County apartment complex.

One family in Crawfordsville said apartment management took their flag down because of where it was placed on the patio.

“There were some things said and I went on Facebook with it and it became a flag issue,” JC Clendening said.

On Sunday, Clendening hung the flag to honor his Vietnam veteran brother who recently passed away.

By Tuesday, he said the Waterford Apartment Complex took it down.

“She said to me ‘we’ve got one in front of the office, that should be enough’ and I said heaven forbid we have a rash of patriotism,” Clendening said about management.

But neighbors in the community said they side with the complex because the lease says that residents can’t put anything on the patio poles.

“Unless you put it in a pot and that’s what they were told, they could put that flag pole in a pot with dirt on the patio and nothing would’ve been said about it.” Mary King said.

Apartment management declined 24-Hour News 8’s request for an interview but did say the issue was not with the flag itself.

Wanda Clendening is JC Clendening’s 84-year-old mother and was at the apartment when management took it down.

“It’s a shame. It’s a shame what’s happening to this country, and people sit down and let it happen.” Wanda Clendening said.

The Clendenings said that apartment management had a change of heart after negative feedback on Facebook. Management put the flag back up.

“It stands for the people that have bled for it. The men that didn’t come home,” JC Clendening said.

Neighbors said the rules clearly state that you can not hang anything on the patio poles, but the Clendenings said they are happy that the complex made an exception for the American flag especially around the 4th of July.