ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. - 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 flag standards were found empty and another 33 flags were 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 struck again 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.

Investigators believe there's more than one culprit, based on the number of flags that were vandalized, Cumming said in a telephone interview. But authorities have no suspects, he said.

The sheriff said deputies were trying to lift fingerprints off what little physical evidence they were able to recover.

:rolleyes:

That's sickening. Some people have no respect whatsoever.

BASTARDS!!! :mad: My state is both evenly PC and has the biggest bunch of racist rednecks. Or just a bunch of punks who don't give a rip about other people's property at all.

BASTARDS!!! :mad: My state is both evenly PC and has the biggest bunch of racist rednecks. Or just a bunch of punks who don't give a rip about other people's property at all.

I concur! Those brazen S.O.B.s will be nailed by the Sheriff's Dept. and they will likely face felony criminal mischief charges.

:mumble: :mad: :angryfire I hope these :censored: are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Maybe some veterans' families can pay them a visit and let their feelings be known. I could say a lot more, but this is a family board, so I'll stop here.

This has liberal "activists" written all over it.





Nice to see Rosie is keeping busy.;)

This has liberal "activists" written all over it.





Nice to see Rosie is keeping busy.;)

Nothing liberal about it. Nothing conservative about it.

It's not activism, it's vandalism.

Nothing liberal about it. Nothing conservative about it.

It's not activism, it's vandalism.
Oh, it's vandalism, alright. But the idea that it could've been done by somebody from the far-left isn't so far-fetched. It could be a bunch of left-wing zealots accusing the government of being fascist, or it could be actual Neo-Nazis.

Oh, it's vandalism, alright. But the idea that it could've been done by somebody from the far-left isn't so far-fetched. It could be a bunch of left-wing zealots accusing the government of being fascist, or it could be actual Neo-Nazis.

My issue with the statement is the fact that I have been called a liberal by individuals who would choose to label me.

To imply that my belief system is anywhere similar to these vandals or Neo-Nazis is infuriating! It's not liberal. That word is thrown around too lightly these days.

This has liberal "activists" written all over it.





Nice to see Rosie is keeping busy.;)

Leave politics out of this thread! This is a criminal offense, which needs prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. This is the work of some young high school dropouts, who obviously have nothing better to do with their time except vandalize and burglarize other people's properties. Those punks need to be locked up!

This is the work of some young high school dropouts, who obviously have nothing better to do with their time except vandalize and burglarize other people's properties.

You only assume that it was done by young high school dropouts. Anyone could have done this and age and education level has nothing to do with it. I'm sure you meant no harm but accusing a certain group of people of doing something when you have no proof is no different than accusing someone of a murder you didn't witness. Your statement also hits home a little bit because I happen to be a high school dropout myself.

My issue with the statement is the fact that I have been called a liberal by individuals who would choose to label me.

To imply that my belief system is anywhere similar to these vandals or Neo-Nazis is infuriating! It's not liberal. That word is thrown around too lightly these days.
Fair enough.