Flags stolen from Arkansas veterans’ memorial

MALVERN, Ark. — This weekend, individuals throughout the nation are remembering our fallen veterans, However in a single small Arkansas city, their memorial was disgraced by thieves.

The flags across the Sizzling Spring County Courthouse in Malvern are greater than a patriotic image put out for Memorial Day. Most of the flags have the names of native veterans connected to them which is why it was particularly irritating for the individuals dwelling there to be taught two flags had been stolen this week.

“It’s actually simply sickening. I imply it’s only a materials factor, nevertheless it has a lot that means behind it,” stated Misty Derrick who lives in Malvern.

When phrase received out that two flags of the 50 flags had been stolen, a number of individuals volunteered to interchange them. Fortunately, Derrick discovered one of many lacking flags. Somebody had planted it in her entrance yard the evening earlier than.

“We walked outdoors, and there was an entire flag rolled proper there up nonetheless on the pole and all the pieces,” Derrick remembered.

She contacted police who picked up the flag and returned it to the organizer. As somebody who has household who served within the army herself, it’s one thing very near Derrick’s coronary heart.

She acknowledged, “Even when I didn’t it will nonetheless be private. These women and men, they misplaced their lives so me and my youngsters might go take pleasure in memorial day weekend.”

The opposite stolen flag remains to be lacking in motion. The organizer changed it out of her personal pocket with considered one of her personal however stated if flags proceed to come back up lacking, she might need to cease this system.

Derrick stated that may be a “disgrace”.

“This proper right here is the least they deserve for the sacrifices they made for us,” Derrick acknowledged. “It’s a disgrace one thing like this might be taken away due to a thief.”

After the flags had been returned or changed, we had been instructed no extra had been stolen from Thursday as much as Sunday when this report aired. Nobody has been arrested in accordance with the memorial organizer Tammy Arnold.

We known as the Malvern Police Division concerning the theft to see in the event that they had been capable of catch the thief however couldn’t get any solutions as a result of it being a vacation weekend.