Wrentham Housing Authority reverses flag ban

WRENTHAM, Mass. (WHDH) -- Wrentham residents say they received letters telling them American flags were banned outside their homes Wednesday, but Thursday, the housing authority reversed the ban.

Someone in a Wrentham neighborhood complained to the housing authority that they weren’t happy about seeing the flags outside people’s homes.

“This one is always up. No matter what the weather, it’s always up there blowing and kind of reminding us where we are,” said Edith Rogers, neighbor.

A notice from the Wrentham Housing Authority was taped to neighbors’ doors that said American flags were banned from public display.

“It was a regular-sized flag, but it wasn’t in anybody’s way or anything,” said Ross Herous, a neighbor.

That flag was the reason for the notice. The flag bothered at least one tenant, the housing authority said, who repeatedly complained over Fourth of July.

“That’s what Fourth of July is, celebrating America,” said Herous.

The flag-ban notice came out Wednesday, but by Thursday, dozens of flags sprouted from the ground, signaling the housing authority had reversed its decision.

“It’s my flag. I fought for that flag,” said a World War II veteran.

The State Department of Housing said it was not aware of the decision to ban American flags, and that it was a mistake which has been corrected.