POW Flag Can Stay

In the final showdown over a Hamilton Township veteran's right to fly a POW-MIA flag at his house, a homeowners' association has backed down on its flag ban.

At the meeting Monday night, the board amended its charter to allow homeowners to fly patriotic flags at the Evergreen retirement community.

A crowd of at least 200 people had been expected at the meeting, including members of Rolling Thunder motorcycle group.

Ralph McIlvaine had been allowed temporarily to fly his POW-MIA flag from his house until last night's board meeting.

But McIlvaine had to contribute $1,000 toward the legal expenses incurred by the homeowner's association and pay $50 in fines for the two days he flew his flag without permission.

McIlvaine was found to have violated the association's bylaws in July when he displayed the flag after the start of the war in Iraq.

Hamilton Township's mayor also will now propose an ordinance making it illegal for home owning associations to ban patriotic flags.

"There has been a black mark on the township but we're a patriotic community," said Glen Gilmore, the township's mayor

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