Flags Stolen From Sudbury American Legion

MetroWest Daily News - Framingham, MA, USA

By Abby Jordan/Daily News staff
GateHouse News Service
Posted Dec 14, 2008 @ 10:16 PM

SUDBURY — The American and POW/MIA flags were torn and stolen from the pole at American Legion Post 191 on Boston Post Road in Sudbury earlier this month, the latest in a series of acts of vandalism.

The theft, reported to Sudbury Police on Dec. 2, occurred between Veterans Day and the Pearl Harbor anniversary, making the desecration a particularly emotional one for veterans, a legion officer said.

"They were livid. They felt stealing the American flag was a sacrilege, and I couldn't even describe to you their reactions to the theft of the POW/MIA flag," said Spencer Goldstein, commander of the post. "A lot of these guys are combat veterans and have friends who were POWs or MIAs. This was just too much, just something that couldn't be tolerated."

Goldstein said the flags were ripped from the pole.

"They actually tore them off because the grommets that hold the flags are still in the clips. They tore them off and went off with them,"Goldstein said.

Legion members noticed the first acts of vandalism during the summer when the covers of the post's barbecue grills were stolen.

"It started about the time I took over back in July," Goldstein said. "Things like an automobile battery ending up in the backyard and pieces of trash, signs knocked down."

Goldstein described those incidents as pranks, and did not report them to the police.

Sudbury Police Sgt. John Harris said there have been no other reports of vandalism in the area, but officers are stepping up patrols in the neighborhood.

"Everybody obviously takes the American flag as a symbol of our country, so we do take that personally," Harris said. "We take all reports of theft and vandalism seriously and investigate them to the best of our ability."

The post had been preparing to retire some older flags, but has put new ropes on the pole and raised the battered American and POW/MIA flags.

"I'm making sure that our light is properly directed and shining on the flags," Goldstein said.