Seahawks fan lawyers-up to keep 12th Man flag flying

A die-hard Seahawks fan has secured an attorney to fight his homeowner’s association that is telling him he can’t fly his 12th Man flag.

Dale Carlson tells KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson that he’s been flying his 12th Man flag in his Mill Creek neighborhood since before there was a homeowners’ association. But at the end of last season, the association told him it was time to stop.

“They are saying I cannot fly – they call it the large sports flag – I cannot fly my large sports flag,” says Carlson. “They also told me I had to take the American flag down too. I didn’t have permission to fly that, I was told.”

Eric Lindell, Carlson’s attorney, tells The Everett Herald that Carlson’s right to fly the American flag is protected by the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, but he also says he’ll defend Carlson in his attempts to fly his 12th Man flag.

“I put my 12th Man flag up because I’m just feeling like I’m doing my part at home,” says Carlson, “rooting on my home team which I have done for many years. Call it a goofy superstition or not.”

Carlson claims the absence of the flag has previously been associated with a Seahawks loss.

“I got the letter from the homeowners’ association right before the Seahawks lost to the Atlanta Falcons last year,” says Carlson. “The flag wasn’t flying when they played that game last year.”

“Oh man. We’ve got to keep that flag flying high, it sounds like,” says Dori.

Carlson says regardless of the notice from the homeowners’ association, the flag will be out flying Sunday when the Seahawks take on the Colts.

“I’m going to do my part as the Seahawks 12th Man and make sure this run continues,” he says.