Rustic Relics

Remember the guy who wouldn't take the flag pole down on his Virginia property awhile back? You might remember the news story several months ago about a crotchety old man in Virginia who defied his local Homeowners Association and refused to take down the flag pole on his property along with the large American flag he flew on it.

Now we learn who that old man was. On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg, Texas . That probably didn't make news back then.

But twenty five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Cyrano, Italy, That same Van T. Barfoot, who had in 1940 enlisted in the U.S. Army, set out alone to flank German machine gun positions from which gunfire was raining down on his fellow soldiers. His advance took him through a minefield but having done so, he proceeded to single-handedly take out three enemy machine gun positions, returning with 17 prisoners of war.

And if that weren’t enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.

That probably didn’t make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a Colonel after also serving In Korea and Vietnam , a well deserved Congressional Medal of Honor.

What did make news was his Neighborhood Association's quibble with how the 90-year-old Veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the HOA rules said it was OK to fly a flag on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were "unsuitable."

Van Barfoot had been denied a permit for the pole, but erected it anyway and was facing Court action unless he agreed to take it down.

Then the HOA story made national TV, and the Neighborhood Association rethought its position and agreed to indulge this
aging hero who dwelt among them.

"In the time I have left", he said to the Associated Press, "I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference."

As well he should. And if any of his neighbors had taken a notion to contest him further, they might have done well to read his Medal of Honor citation first. Seems it Indicates Mr. Van Barfoot wasn't particularly good at backing down.

If you've read this post and don't share it, - Guess what -You need your butt kicked. I share this with you because I don't want MY butt kicked anymore and I'm tired of seeing those who hate our country yet march in our streets, tear down our statues, burn our stores and loot our businesses have a free hand to do whatever they want.

WE ONLY LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE! AND, BECAUSE OF BRAVE OLD MEN LIKE VAN BARFOOT!

From small town Waynesville to a lasting American legacy, John B. Stetson’s story passed right through here. ✨

After being diagnosed with tuberculosis as a young man, Stetson headed west in search of adventure and a healthier climate. During his travels through mining camps and frontier towns, he began making durable felt hats for fellow travelers using the hat making skills taught to him by his father. The waterproof hats quickly became popular across the American West.

As his health improved, Stetson decided to return east and turn the idea into a business. On his way to start his business in Philadelphia, he stopped in Waynesville to visit his sister on South Main Street, where she gave him $60 to help him get started, a small act that helped launch what would become one of the most recognizable hat companies in the world.

His famous “Boss of the Plains” hat became an icon of the American West, and his company grew into one of the largest hat manufacturers in the world. Beyond business, Stetson became known for providing fair wages, medical care, and opportunities for thousands of workers long before many companies offered such benefits.

Today, the Stetson name remains part of American history, with one small chapter of that story beginning here in Waynesville.

Learn more about our hometown hero at History Day & Night at the Museum this Saturday, May 16. 💛

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