UPDATE: Flags Returned to Unicoi Park; Reward Still Offered for Vandals
Dana Wachter/ 11 Connects
UPDATE 8:32 a.m. July3: New flags have been put up for the holiday at Unicoi County Veterans Memorial Park in Erwin, Tenn. Vandals responsible for the damage, however, still remain at large.
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The Chief of Police in Erwin says he’s furious.
Overnight, vandals painted grafitti and burned American flags at the Unicoi County Veterans Memorial Park in Erwin, Tenn., Chief Regan Tilson told News Channel 11 Connects. Tilson said the vandals also damaged nearby Gentry Stadium.
The Town of Erwin has offered a $1000 reward for information leading to an arrest, Tilson said.
“It might not look like much damage to some, but for these veterans this is insulting,“ he said.
Look for updates on this developing story here on TriCities.Com.
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Reader Reactions
While these vandals may be underage i do not agree with sending them off to jail. In my opinion they should have community service to include cleaning the park 2x a week for a year as well as service at the local V.A. Medical Center. Maybe there they can pick up a few stories and learn to respect their country as well as their community. Its all about how you handle it people. Please let’s not turn this into religion/ color/ income/region statistic battle and look at them for what they are children. I’m not sure who made that comment about prosecuting the parents: If you are a parent you understand that you can not control everything your children do. Especially not if you are off hard at work trying to support them. I really do think that having to repay their debts to the community will hold far greater influence in the future than sitting behind bars ever could.
I agree the culprits need some foirm of punishment , but I disagree with all the people who feel public whippings , excessive jail time and sending them to other countrys . How many of you as kids did stupid things . Sending kids to prison only creates more harden criminals as they learn new ways to be a menace to the public in prison. Not to mention the burden of cost for sending stupid kids to prison. Our economy is the reason so many kids are out roaming around doing stupid things as both parents are working to make ends meet why their kids become latchkey kids , why does it always have to be one parent kids getting the blame . I won’t be supprised if the kids came from a loving decent respectable home and even possibly with a veteran as a parent too. If you people put half as much effort into helping kids and seeing that they have somewhere to go as you do bad mouthing them maybe it be a better place for all . Tired of rightgeous motor mouths always laying blame and spouting off .
Hey tnandy, is this really the article to post your far right rhetoric, to go from flag desecration at a Veterans park to how there is too much government involvement in peoples lives, thats quite a leap, perhaps you would like to replace the Stars and Stripes with a GOP banner.
I think that Channel 11 should do a story on these vandals once they get caught. That would bring to light the true plight of our area: boredom mixed with stupidity. Can’t you go to Federal prison for flag burning?
This type of action is simply a symptom of much bigger problem…..that we support people in this society via a “safety net” of welfare, housing, food stamps, and the huge govt beauramess that gains by it to the point that people don’t HAVE to actually do ANYTHING any more if they are willing to just get by.
Yep….no doubt when these punks are caught, they will be teens (or there abouts)with nothing better to do that roam the streets looking for mischief.
But look a level deeper, and you’ll find they are most likely from a public supported “family” ( single mother, living with grandparents, etc )and just don’t have to work at anything to get the basics of food, clothing, etc…and thus have the idle hands of the devil.
This country could actually USE another great depression….and a collapse of the currency and takedown of the mess we call government. Charity would return to the private sector, like churches, who know WHO needs what versus WHO is simply a slacker, and isn’t a govt weenie with a career path based on the number of handouts they can dish out.
I am a vetran.and i am proud to live in these united states. i think if the kids are under age we should hold the parents accountable for their kids actions. they obviously did not raise them right!
Who ever done this horrible act should be in jail for a long time to come. What people need to understand is that FREDOM is NOT FREE! It is because of our soldiers today, and our veterans of yesterday that we have what freedom we have. To disrespect the Flag of the United States of America, and to disrespect our Veterans and Military, it would take someone completely heartless and cruel. I hope they are caught and pay for their horiffic crime!
These punks dont deserve to live here in the good ole USA! Your a disgrace to “our” country! If u dont like it, then leave!!!!
Anyone who would burn an American flag needs to be thrown out of the country! Our vets fought for their right to be stupid! Can’t wait to these cowards are behind bars.
No jail time for the punks. No public whipping either. I say send them to the North Korean border with spy documents. A few years in a North Korean prison will make them love America. After that send them to Paris Island for a few weeks.
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