Neighborhood makes changes after fight over flags

RICHMOND, TX (KTRK) -- He served for eight years in the U.S. Army. In February, Jordan Johnson moved into a new neighborhood in Fort Bend County. Three weeks ago, in anticipation of the Fourth of July, he realized though that there was no U.S. flag or even a Texas flag flying at the entrance of Fieldstone.

Only two red flags advertising the Richmond-area neighborhood were flying there. Johnson couldn't believe the response he says he received.

"It's not right. It's not right," said Johnson. He tells Eyewitness News he asked the developer and property management company if they would agree to put up the flags. "He said it's not part of his marketing campaign. He's in the business to sell houses," Johnson told us. "Dumbfounded. Kinda like one of those - 'Oh my gosh' moments. Pick your jaw up off the floor, like, really?"

Fieldstone is a subdivision in Fort Bend County still being built. As such, the developer still is more powerful than the homeowner's association.

Other homeowners also requested the flags be changed. Ryan Andrasek felt like there needed to be a show of patriotism in Fieldstone for the holidays.

"For them to flat out refuse, it is very disturbing to me," Andrasek said. He started selling his services: putting up us flags in yards of homeowners. He even made temporary flag poles to put near the entrance.

Then Wednesday afternoon, hours after our calls to developers and property managers, a change came. The property management company, Crest Management Company, had someone come take down one of the Fieldstone flags and raise a U.S. flag.

"That was fantastic! It's wonderful," said homeowner Melissa Rojas.

Developers tell a different story. Houma Samanian with Fieldstone Lot Partners and Ersa Grae Corporation insists they never said they wouldn't add the U.S or Texas flag. He refused to talk on camera but insisted, "There's no story about it. They asked us, and we did it."

Now the first flag you see as you enter Fieldstone, is a flag generations have been fighting for. Proof that the no battle is too great nor too small for our military or veterans.

Samanian never explained why the flag was suddenly changed after this issue started getting attention from the media.