CLAY COUNTY, Fla. -- A banner honoring America's military has become the center of a controversy in Clay County, where officials have said an Orange Park woman's patriotic display is breaking the law.

Ella George told WJXT that members of her family have fought for the country, and now she is fighting for her right to honor them by putting up a supportive banner at Annabelle's Interiors.

The six-foot by two-foot banner in front of the Clay County business says, "Salute Every Generation's Heroes."

However, the county said the banner violates its sign ordinance and has ordered it be removed.

"It was like someone had just slapped me in the face, basically," George said.

The code enforcement notice asking the banner be taken down cites a 2004 ordinance that prohibits banners in front of businesses, among other things.

"It just blew my mind. I cannot see why a store cannot advertise, if you want to call it advertising. Just putting something up that supports our military," George said.

The military widow doesn’t own Annabelle's Interiors but has worked at the store for 18 years. She said the banner and other patriotic messages, such as the store's mailbox that says "Support Our Troops," and several other supportive signs in front of the business, have the owner's blessing.

George also pointed out that the county's code specifically states that it is banners that advertise a business that are prohibited.

"It says in the code that it's for banners that advertise your business. This is not advertising," George said. "This is a military community, and I think right now with everything going on in Iraq and our men dying for us over there it's time for us to support them. By doing something small like this -- I think it helps."

Reporter Dan Leveton spoke to someone at the county's code enforcement office about the issue and was told an official would call back. As of Wednesday evening, that call has not been returned.

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