(Image Source: Daily Mail)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

 A retired New York City police officer who rescued people on September 11th is being told by his homeowners’ association he can not fly a flag that commemorates that day.

 Richard Wentz lost 43 friends in the attacks, and is suffering from cancer that he says is a result of Ground Zero contamination. He flies two flags outside his Florida home -- the American flag and The Flag of Honor. Also called a ghost flag, its colors are faded and the name of each person who died in 9/11 is embroidered on it. The Daily Mail explains the homeowners’ associations’ problem with the flag.

“The … association told him only one flag is allowed and it must be the American flag … the association claims Mr. Wentz’s flag undermines the visual harmony of the surrounding properties.”


 But Wentz refuses to budge, even though the association is threatening him with fines and legal action.

WKMG headed to the neighborhood, and got the perspectives of both the neighbors and the association. First -- the neighbors.

 REPORTER: “They all tell us the same thing -- they’re shocked and disgusted at their association.”
NEIGHBOR: “He was involved in 9/11 and I think he deserves to have the flag up there. What he went through and what he’s still going through -- I think it’s an honor in our neighborhood to have that flag up.”

REPORTER: “But the property management company claims they have received complaints.”

“The problem is, he’s flying two flags, and until somebody changes that, there’s a problem.”

Fox News spoke with Wentz himself, who explains why he thinks there should be an exemption to the rule.

RICHARD WENTZ: “If you think about it, every day, laws are broken -- laws are bent. When a law enforcement officer stops a person for a traffic offence, he’s allowed and he has the discretion whether to write that summons or not, and let’s face it -- everybody out here has been stopped at least once by a law enforcer. They always ask for a break.”

Wentz was given 10 days to remove the flag, but he says he won’t be taking it down.