73-year-old veteran fighting Florida homeowners association over American flag in flower pot

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 24 (UPI) -- A Florida veteran is battling the homeowners association at the Jacksonville community where he lives for the right to keep an American flag in a flower pot in his front yard.

According to Larry Murphree, the HOA has fined him $8,000 and placed a lien on his home. Murphree has bee fighting against the Tides Condominium at Sweetwater HOA for more than two years.

"I have a right to have it there," Murphree told First Coast News. "They've got a foreclosure on my house that's why the flag is upside down. (I am) hurt disappointed that they just keep going after the American flag and after me."

Murphree reached an out of court settlement with the HOA after a lawsuit about a similar issue last year, but the association has rewritten its rules since then.

"When I first moved here, I loved it. It was wonderful. But it got where I'm being nitpicked more and more. I've lost a lot of friends and neighbors moving out. I don't want to move," Murphree told Action News.

A lawyer from the firm that is representing the HOA said that foreclosure proceedings on Murphree's home can begin in 30 days if payment is not made.