American Legion officials are hoping to locate 11 U.S. flags that may have blown down or been removed from locations around downtown following Independence Day festivities.
Twenty flags went up before the holiday along the Main Street and Third Avenue parade route, but when volunteers went to take them down about a week later, only seven were still up, said Bill McRoberts, commander of the Legion’s Lynn Canal post.
“I think most of the ones that are missing blew off (brackets) and somebody just picked them up,” said McRoberts. The flag poles are made of an alloy and “flimsy,” he said.
Sue Waterhouse, who helped raise funds and put up the flags, said ones that were missing were attached to metal light poles on Main Street. Brackets attaching the flags to the poles also are missing, she said.
“They’ve got to be somewhere. They didn’t blow into the woods or the ocean. I don’t want to think people stole them. It’s hard to believe they’re completely missing,” Waterhouse said.
Flags recovered near the borough administration building and near Fifth and Main have reduced the number of missing ones to 11, McRoberts said.
The flags cost $30 each and were bought with donations from citizens. McRoberts said he’s hoping to use most of the flags again and would look into purchasing stronger poles. Some flags hung from telephone poles became stained by creosote and will have to be replaced, he said.To provide information, contact McRoberts at 303-8003.