A Salem apartment complex that told a local soldier to remove his American flag has had a change of heart.
Army Specialist Tyler Barge received a letter from Riverwalk Apartments earlier this week ordering him to take down his flag by Monday.
A representative from the corporate office which runs Riverside said they will allow the soldier to keep flying his flag.
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Original story from Thursday night
A soldier in Salem says his apartment complex asked him to do what he calls the unthinkable, remove his American flag from the back porch.
"As a veteran and patriotic American, I feel it is my right and duty to display the flag," says Army Specialist Tyler Barge.
Barge was appalled when his apartment complex sent him a letter Wednesday asking him to take down the flag by February 4th. It is currently being propped up like a plant in a vase.
"The only thing the lease says about the flag is that it cannot be hanging from anything and as you can see that flag is not," says Barge.
According to the letter sent from Riverwalk Apartments, tenants are only allowed to set out patio furniture, plants, and up to three working bicycles as a way to keep the property clean. Though our camera caught at least one unit that had more bicycles. It's why Barge is wondering why displaying the flag is even an issue.
The soldier says the flag, which has been in this spot for the last five months, isn't going anywhere, even if it means getting fined, or worse, evicted.
"We'll deal with that as it comes," says Barge.
WDBJ7 did hear back from one of the local workers at Riverwalk Apartments. She was not able to comment but we are hopeful to hear from the corporate office soon.
