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Flags Burned, Replaced With Swastikas

Vandals burned dozens of small American flags that decorated veterans' graves for Memorial Day and replaced many of them with hand-drawn swastikas, authorities said Monday.

Forty-six flags were burned completely and another 33 were found in charred tatters Sunday in the cemetery, authorities said. Swastikas drawn on paper appeared where 14 of the flags had been.

Members of the American Legion on this island off Washington's northwest coast replaced the burned flags with new ones Sunday afternoon.

The vandals repeated the stunt on Memorial Day after a guard left at dawn, the San Juan County sheriff's office said. This time, the vandals left 33 of the hand-drawn swastikas.

"This is not an act of free speech. This is a crime," Sheriff Bill Cumming said in a statement released Monday afternoon.

Sheriff's department officials declined to comment further on Monday.

I am sure this is kids doing this...and what a complete lack of respect. 

FInd them and make them serve 2 years in the Army minimum.  I am all for the judicial system being used as a tool to bring in "recruits"

As a Chief Petty Officer I had received several recruits in my unit that had been given a choice to enlist or to serve time in prison. While it was a difficult task for me I enjoyed that time.  ;) :D

yeah when I was in boot there was one guy who was in because of that option.  I could tell already his life had been changed.

I totally agree.  We should go to our prisons and 'recruit' for Iraq.  We're losing too many wonderful young men and women.  I have another suggestion for those who denigrated our flag.  They should be required to work in a flag factory and make at least 3,500 flags....one for each of our brave men and women who gave their lives for our country.    (http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb87/mom2bran/GodBlessAmerica.jpg)

It seems that they don't want freedom.  I would say, have them serve in the Marine Corp.  They want to do things the hard way, the Marines will gladly serve it up. ;D ;D ;D

The long weekend is in our national calendar the semiofficial start of summer, the running of that American institution, the Indianapolis 500, and the Coca Cola 600.

The young men and women, regulars, reservists and guards, have fought this war dutifully, uncomplainingly and with civilized restraint. They are all volunteers and ask nothing of us other than they be remembered. It's little enough to ask.

Originally, the custom of decorating military graves began after the Civil War. After World War I what was known as Decoration Day was expanded to include all the nation's war dead. This is the 40th anniversary of the holiday being officially declared Memorial Day. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

To have it end, with this crime is uncalled for..............

One thing we would have to do first is to allow the drill instructors some leeway again.  Used to be they could get down and hard with a recruit.  Now days in our world of "dont hurt me" attitude they really can't even make you do PT for 4 hours or anything that would cause you some severe aches and pains.  Nowadays it is more a very weak mental battle and I do mean very very weak.

There's always a way to get around that.  ;) ;D ;D