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Home Owners Association Decides Forbidding Navy Veteran to Fly Flag Not Good Idea

Aired May 06, 2002 - 13:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A home owners association in Cherry Grove, South Carolina decided that forbidding a Navy veteran to fly the American flag isn't such a good idea after all. Since the September 11th terror attacks, Mike Kaminsky has been flying Old Glory at his townhome in defiance of the neighborhood association covenant. He is with us on the phone with us now from his deli in north Myrtle Beach.

I understand that the stars and stripes are flying high at your place today.

MIKE KAMINSKY: Yes, ma'am, that's correct.

COSTELLO: Tell us what happened over the weekend. How was it settled?

KAMINSKY: Well, basically, as you know, or may not know, I received a letter in the mail about a week or so ago relative to a previous letter, that if I don't take my flag down, there will be fines, and the lady who I rent my townhouse from will have a lien put on the home. That is sort of what precipitated the media interest and what have you.

Over the weekend, the fifth party of the association happens to be a lady judge out of North Carolina, called an emergency meeting to discuss this big flag issue. And a vote of 4-1 confirmed that I can fly the flag. The lien will be absolved, as well as the fine.

COSTELLO: That is such good news. Congratulations to you for standing up for what you believed was right.

Tell me, I know you were certainly not alone. You received quite a bit of response from people in light of your dilemma, didn't you?

KAMINSKY: Well, yes, since this went to the media, and believe me, the only reason I had made the initial call to WPDE station, it was only to express my lack of interest in what they were doing to me and telling me to take the flag down. I have received phone calls from -- actually the most important phone call I got was from three Air Force pilots stationed overseas, expressing their support, and I was quite shocked by that.

COSTELLO: Wow, Uzbekistan. KAMINSKY: Yes, ma'am.

COSTELLO: That's a long distance bill.

KAMINSKY: Quite...

COSTELLO: What did they say to you?

KAMINSKY: Basically, they were behind me all the way, and each of the pilots wanted to individually speak to me via satellite, and it was quite interesting.

In addition to that, there's been numerous calls from radio stations throughout the country, homeowners throughout the country, and it's bigger than I really -- I really didn't want all this attention; I just want it fly my flag.

COSTELLO: Now you got the flag up. I'm just curious, what about any of your neighbors? Are they going to put flags out now?

KAMINSKY: I hope so. Since the emergency meeting over the weekend, the association has allowed all of the home owners at the complex to fly flags until they erect a flagpole in front of the clubhouse, but I'm sort of asking the whole country to continue to continue to fly flags.

COSTELLO: Fly those flags.

KAMINSKY: That's exactly right.

COSTELLO: Mike, what was the reason for not wanting them to -- I know it is in the covenants there at the Homeowner's Assocation, but why not fly the flag?

KAMINSKY: Because, as the president said, Mr. Bill Wren (ph) said, the rules are the rules.

COSTELLO: Well, not any more.

KAMINSKY: No, ma'am. No, ma'am.

COSTELLO: Mike Kaminsky, congratulations. We have video now of the red, white and blue flying at your home. And have a great day at the deli there. Hope you get lots of lots of business.

KAMINSKY: Actually, we have Duke University in town on the map, and they have been here all week, and we really appreciate their business, and I thank you for allowing me to say a few words.

COSTELLO: Sure. OK. Thanks, Mike. We should tell everyone that the neighborhood home owner's association had no comment on this story.

Thanks, Mike.

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