A Staten Island couple whose son is serving in the Navy is in hot water with the city Housing Authority for flying an American flag from their apartment balcony, their lawyer said yesterday.
Eugene and Sally Wimmer, who live in the Stapleton Houses, were shocked when they got a letter last week saying the 3-foot by 5-foot flag pinned to their balcony railing was in violation of their lease, said the lawyer, Lisa Giovinazzo.
“They’ve been flying the flag since Sept. 11, 2001,” Giovinazzo said.
“They clean it and also shine a light on it in the evening.”
They also secure it in a way so that it doesn’t rip in the wind or flap onto other balconies or obstruct any other tenants’ views, she said.
“They’re very upset,” Giovinazzo said. “It’s a symbol of hope for them.”
Eugene Wimmer told The Post, through the lawyer: “Removing the flag from my balcony is a slap in the face to me and to everyone of our armed servicemen.”
Their son, Joe Grym, who is stationed in Maryland but was at home on leave this weekend, said, also through Giovinazzo, “It’s absurd and an outrage for any individual to have to remove a flag which represents their country.”
Housing Authority spokesman Howard Marder admitted, “I really don’t know what happened.”
He promised to review the situation today.