Montco Family Told By Homeowners Assoc To Take Down American Flag

TELFORD, PA — A family in Montgomery County is looking to fight back after a local homeowners association told them to take down a flag pole waving the American flag in front of their house.

The flag pole is on common ground near their unit, according to a letter sent by the association, which owns the Indian Valley Meadows complex in Telford.

Darlene and Rocco Lacertosa say they recently installed the flag pole to honor their two sons, both of whom currently serve in the military. The family argues there are no written rules in the association contract that forbid a flag pole, while the association states that this rule is expressly laid out in governing documents.

"Very upsetting since we have two sons in the military and this flag pole was Rocco’s dad’s which he proudly flew every day until the day he died," Darlene Lacertosa shared in a public social media post. "Very upsetting."

In a letter, the association said that they "trust that as a homeowner at Indian Valley Meadows you recognize that keeping the entire community looking good helps to promote strong values."

A spokesperson for the Galman Group, which manages the property, confirmed to Patch that they had requested residents to comply with existing architectural standards.

"The standards specifically permit the American flag to be flown when mounted to a house but do not permit in-ground flags in the community," the spokesperson said. "The Galman Group and the Board at Indian Valley Meadows welcome its residents to display the American flag, and other appropriate flags, in accordance with the guidelines established for the benefit of the community."

The Galman Group issued a clarifying statement this week regarding the issue and the nature ofir relationship with Indian Valley.

“The Galman Group supports every homeowners’ right to display the American flag and all appropriate flags. We do not own the Indian Valley Meadows community, which is governed by the rules set forth by the Indian Valley Meadows association’s board of directors and its attorney. As the property manager, Galman does not have the authority to change the rules, and the community’s board of directors is responsible for answering specific questions about its bylaws.

“The Indian Valley Meadows association does not permit installing in-ground poles, though homeowners proudly display the American flag on stands mounted to their individual home, which is allowed by the association’s rules. We thank the men and women who serve our country, and we will continue to assist those who would like to display flags mounted on their homes to honor our country, veterans and all current members of the military.”

The community is located along Regent Road and Valley Drive in Telford.