Bowing to pressure: Sun City resident takes down American flag

After the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, Sun City Hilton Head resident George Mangi placed a magnetic American flag on his garage door as a way to display his patriotism and honor those who died.

More than six years later, Sun City's Modifications Committee -- a nine-member, resident-led group that rules on home change requests -- told Mangi the 8-by-11-inch flag at the top right corner of his two-car garage door had to go because it violated community decoration standards.

The committee did say there was one chance for Mangi to keep the flag on the door -- apply for a covenant modification.

Early this month, Mangi did just that, petitioning the committee to allow the flag to remain.

The committee rejected that petition.

The magnet, they said in a letter dated April 21, violated community rules prohibiting garage door decorations. Mangi would have to remove the magnet before the 15-day re-inspection deadline -- or face a $25 fine and forced removal of the flag.

He took the magnet down.

"They're nitpicking," Mangi said. "I just want common sense brought to this."

While he says he understands the need for rules, he thinks the committee has been heavy-handed in its rulings affecting homeowners.

"I love it here, but there's no room for individuality," he said. "If we had pink flamingos on our lawn, that would be another matter."

Mangi is not the only Sun City resident upset by the panel's rulings.

Several years ago, resident Wally Slate got permission from the committee to construct a wrought-iron gate to fence in a dog on his property. Slate installed a vintage script "S" initial -- a piece obtained from his wife's family -- on the gate as a finishing touch.

He didn't seek approval from the committee for the letter, thinking it would be considered a part of the gate.

"Wrong! I had to remove it," Slate wrote in an e-mail Thursday.

He later attached concrete pineapples atop the columns supporting the wrought iron gate. He said the Modifications Committee found the pineapples in violation of code -- five years after he put them there. He petitioned for and received approval for them.

Modifications Committee Chairman Robert Barry said applications for modifications -- between 30 and 40are processed each week -- are voted on by committee members.

"The reason they're turned down is because they're in violation of the covenant," he said. He declined to provide further details.

Mangi is still upset he was forced to strike his colors.

"There's no sense of fairness," he said. "It made me feel un-American."