Flag Memorializing U.S. Veterans Found Burned Behind Business

One of thousands of U.S. flags memorializing the deaths of men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan was found burned behind a business in Cathedral City today.

“The flag was stolen this morning, and they found the flag and they found it burnt, like beyond recognition burnt,” said Sue Priest, project coordinator at the Healing Field memorial. “We are a little upset. They should be shot.”

Another flag was found hanging upside down Tuesday, while two others were removed and wadded up into balls, Priest said.

“These flags are very personal to a lot of us,” Priest told City News Service. “We’ve lost friends and family in the war. This is completely not political. We don’t care how you feel about the war. We just want our family members respected and remembered.”

Nearly 4,200 flags were put up at Patriot Park, at the coroner of Date Palm and Dinah Shore Drives.

Organizers for the healing field were unable to raise enough money a flag for each of the 5,883 soldiers who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001.

Flags have been stolen from the field in the past, but not desecrated, Priest said.

A former U.S. Marine is making rounds today and will kept watch over the memorial tonight, she said.

“We are all volunteers. This is an all volunteer project,” Priest said.

The flags will be retired during a closing ceremony at noon Sunday.