Family Pulls Son Out Of High School After He Was Told To Remove Large Flags Displayed On His Truck

Aug 30, 2023 by apost team

A family in Bedford County, Virginia, decided to pull their teenage son from school following a controversy that arose from him displaying the American flag on his truck. Staunton River High School had asked the high school senior, Christopher Hartless, to remove the two large flags mounted in the back of his truck, but he refused. 

Hartless said he only exercised his First Amendment right to fly the American flag by displaying it on his car.

“My family fought for America and I feel like I should be able to represent the flag that they fought for,” the teen told ABC 13 in an interview posted on YouTube on Aug. 22, 2023.

Hartless said the school administration told him to remove the flags because they were distracting. However, he refused and rationalized the situation differently. He said:

“I don't understand how it's a distraction if they have one on the flagpole that every other student can see.” 

Hartless revealed that about ten minutes into the first period on Aug. 21, 2023, he was asked to take them down again but refused.

His stepmom, Christina Kingery, who also talked to the outlet, disclosed that her stepson’s parking pass was revoked, and since she didn’t want him to take the bus, he would be homeschooled moving forward.

“Like I told my son is if this is what he is believing in, me and his dad are both going to stand behind him all the way to the end of it,” she said. She added, “If they're willing to change and let kids want to fly the American flag, then I'll put him back in Staunton River... possibly put him back in Staunton River, but if they don't, then I'm going to continue to let him fly his flags.” 

ABC 13 reached out to the school for a response, and in the YouTube video posted on Aug. 22, 2023, they clarified that flags are allowed, only that they had to be small for safety reasons, as disclosed in the student driver contract every student and their parents signed. 

Staunton River also sent a statement to parents during the weekend to clarify things.

“Large flags or banners are not allowed to be flown or displayed on vehicles due to their distractive nature. The underlying concern is student safety and whether or not a banner or flag is large enough to create a distraction for other drivers,” the statement read.

They continued, “Please be assured that we proudly fly the American flag throughout the school, and the Pledge of Allegiance is recited every morning.”

However, Kingery said she still believes that her son and other students should be able to fly any flags “as long as it's not harmful and it doesn't disgrace our country,” she said. 

When ABC asked if stickers and banners were allowed, the school replied in the affirmative and also confirmed that wearing clothing with the American flag was also allowed. 

Staunton River’s concern with the display of the flag is not far-fetched. According to the Car and Driver website, there is a flag etiquette and the right size for individual vehicles. 

The website stated, “Draping a real flag flat over the hood, trunk, or truck bed is considered disrespectful to the flag. Flags must also be mounted either in the center or on the passenger side of the vehicle.” They added, “If two flags are displayed, it's okay to put one on each side, but they should be mounted at the same height and be hung in the same way.”

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What do you think about the teenage boy's refusal to take down his flags? Do you think his parents were right to support him? Do you think he mounted his flags appropriately Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to friends and family.