A 90-year-old Medal of Honor winner says he plans to fly Old Glory "without interference" for the rest of his life, after his homeowners' association has dropped their demand to take down a 21-foot flagpole in his front yard.

Retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot read a statement Wednesday thanking people nationwide who backed his efforts to fly the American flag at his home.

The Sussex Square homeowners' association dropped threats of legal action against the World War II veteran on Tuesday.

Barfoot had erected the flagpole in September, despite being denied permission to do so, because it violated the neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines.

Virginia Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb had rallied behind Barfoot's right to keep his flagpole.

In a letter last week, Webb urged the association to "consider the exceptional nature of Col. Barfoot's service when considering his pride and determination in honoring our flag."

The flag flap was the subject of veterans online bulletin boards and blog sites. It also gained the attention of The White House.

Barfoot received the Medal of Honor after standing up to three German tanks with a bazooka and stopping their advance near Carano, Italy in March of 1944.  During his military career, Barfoot was also awarded the Silver Star, The Legion of Merit and three Purple Hearts.  He also served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the Army in 1974.