Office of Rep. Gary Scherer, 92nd Ohio House District
COLUMBUS – State Representative Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) voted in support of House Bill 18 today, which passed in the Ohio House of Representatives with bipartisan support. HB 18 prohibits landlords from restricting the display of American flags, service flags and the National League of Families POW/MIA flag.
“I was shocked to learn that this was not already a right afforded to Ohioans,” said Scherer. “Showing support for our country and troops should never be restricted. I am glad that we were able to pass a simple bill for such a significant right.”
Stemming from an incident in which an 86-year-old woman from central Ohio was barred from displaying an American flag in the home she was renting, the bill would keep manufactured homes park operators, condominium associations, neighborhood associations and landlords from restricting the display of these flags.
The legislation as introduced would codify in the Ohio Revised Code the principles of the “The Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005.” The provision will be expanded to include service banners, which include the Blue Star Flag flown by the families of deployed service members, Gold Star Flags, which are displayed by the families of fallen service members, and the National League of Families POW/MIA flag, which is displayed as a symbol of respect for POW/MIAs.
Flag Day will be celebrated across the country on Sunday, June 14, in commemoration of the adoption of the flag of the United States.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
