MACEDONIA: Fred Quigley soon will have a bust of George Washington to go with his American flag flying from a pole in the front yard of his home.The National Independent Flag Dealers Association will give Quigley the George Washington Award tonight at its annual convention in Washington, D.C.Quigley was involved in a dispute with his homeowners association in the last year over whether he could fly the flag on a 14-foot flagpole in front of his home.Last month, the homeowners association decided that it would allow Quigley to continue to fly the flag on a pole, even though the rules require that flags be on poles attached to the home and not in the ground.“We give the award to someone who in our opinion has displayed an exceptional feeling of patriotism, standing up for what’s right in this country and showing pride in our flag,” said James Giraudo, president of the group and president of Pacific Coast Flag in Sacramento, Calif.Quigley, 77, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, Army chaplain, former Ohio Air National Guardsman and retired Presbyterian minister, will fly to Washington, D.C., today for the award ceremony at Mount Vernon, the former home of George Washington.“I’m excited and surprised,” Quigley said of receiving the award. “I never anticipated this in anything I have done.”Giraudo said his group, made up of about 80 flag dealers and flag manufacturers, heard about the controversy after it made national headlines.He said his group decided to give Quigley the award before the homeowners association decided to let Quigley keep the flagpole in his yard.The award is a 12-pound bronze bust of George Washington, Giraudo said.“This is someone who needs to be recognized,” Giraudo said.Quigley said his flag continues to fly.“The flag won’t come down,” he said.For more on the flag organization, go to http://www.nifda.net.Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or at jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.