Teen Christopher Hartless leaves his Virginia school after he was told to remove American flags from his truck

A Virginia teen has opted to homeschool after high school officials demanded he retrieve two American flags from his truck.

Christopher Hartless believes he is exercising his First Amendment right by flying the flag on his property and said he has no plans to remove the exhibit.

“My family fought for America, and I feel I should be able to represent the flags they fought for,” Christopher said in an interview with Fox 19 in Virginia.

Christina Kingery, Christopher’s stepmother, said Staunton River High School officials told him the flags, which are mounted on the back of the truck, are a distraction.

In a statement to local media, a representative of the school said the student parking contract explicitly prohibits all flags and banners on vehicles for safety reasons.

Christopher Hartless (pictured) believes he is exercising his First Amendment right by flying the flag on his property and said he has no plans to remove the exhibit

He told ABC-13 he refuses to take down the flags and he doesn’t understand how this can be perceived as distracting.

“I don’t understand how disturbing it is when they have one on the flagpole for every other student to see,” Christopher said.

Kingery said his mother stood by him after he told her about the matter.

“I told my son that if this is what he believes in, we’ll both be behind him all the way,” said Kingery.

After his first warning, the school told him again that the patriotic displays had to go, or else.

Christopher again refused and the school revoked his 2023 parking pass.

Kingery told local media that she did not want him to drive the bus for unspecified reasons. As a result of the disagreement, the family decided to start homeschooling.

“If they’re willing to change and let kids fly the American flag, I’ll put it back in school,” Kingery said.

“I’ve told my son that if this is what he believes in, we’ll both be behind him all along,” Christopher’s stepmother, Christina Kingery (pictured), told ABC 13

In a press release issued Tuesday, representatives from the Bedford County Public Schools said the student parking contract was clear about flags.

The displays are banned “because of their potential to distract or obstruct the view of student drivers as they navigate the school parking lot.”

Officials said these rules have been in place for “more than a decade” and were mainly introduced for “student safety.’

In a statement to Fox News Digital, school board officials noted that the American flag does not violate the student code of conduct.

“Clothing containing language or images that are offensive, profane, vulgar, discriminatory or racially/culturally divisive,” the statement read.

This includes, but is not limited to, confederate flags, swastikas, KKK references, or other images that could reasonably be considered offensive or intimidating to others.

“Wearing clothing with American flag logos or prints on clothing is not included.”

Before dropping out, Christopher attended Staunton River High School in Moneta, Virginia

The flags are mounted on the back of the teen’s red pickup truck

Officials said schools in the district “proudly fly the American flag throughout the school and the Pledge of Allegiance is recited each morning.”

Bedford County, which is home to Staunton River High School, is also home to the National D-Day Memorial.

According to the memorial’s website, Bedford, Virginia, was chosen as the site for the patriotic memorial for multiple reasons.

“The city of Virginia lost nineteen of the men involved that day, all members of Company A, 29th Infantry Division, possibly the largest loss per capita of any city in America on that day,” the website reads. of the monument. states.

Another four soldiers later died during World War II.