One Flag Burned, Five Stolen Over Memorial Day

The total disrespect for the United States and members of the Sullivan American Legion Post 18 occurred over the Memorial Day weekend as five flags were stolen and one partially burned.

Post 18 members placed more than 1,200 flags on the graves of fallen servicemen and women. More than 250 were set up throughout the community.

The five stolen flags were taken from downtown Sullivan.

The flag that was burned was mounted on Springfield Road near Walmart Drive.

Longtime flag presenters John Baxter, Gene Hopwood and three others were shocked to find the flags had been tampered with.

Post 18 puts up the flags and takes them down with just a handful of volunteers. The volunteers donate their time and money, in addition to the small amount Post 18 has to purchase the flags.

According to Hopwood, the group doesn’t have a large fund to purchase replacement flags when they are stolen and it was even worse to see someone disrespect America’s fallen during Memorial Day weekend by partially burning the flag.

The flags and mounting pole together each cost Post 18 around $25.

If anyone would like to donate to Post 18 and help replace the flags that have been taken or contribute to the future of the dedicated volunteers who help this program, they can be made at Sullivan Independent News, P.O. Box 268, Sullivan, MO, with all checks and donations marked for American Legion Post 18. 

The donations can also be made at the newspaper office at 411 Scottsdale Dr., Sullivan, Mo. 

If anyone knows who may have stolen the flags or who was responsible for burning the flag on Springfield Road, please contact Sullivan Police at 573-468-8001.