WASHINGTON — Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi has a special warning for would-be thieves of U.S. flags from veterans cemeteries.
“All American flags are special,” Principi said. “But the ones that line the entrances of VA national cemeteries were used in the burial of veterans and donated by their loved ones.”
Two VA national cemeteries were victims of theft when they displayed their “avenue of flags” to honor those killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. At Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Mich., eight donated burial flags were stolen. At Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash., all 38 of the avenue flags and the cemetery’s main flag were taken.
News reports in the Seattle-Tacoma area about the thefts prompted citizens to donate burial flags to the national cemetery. The cemetery has already accepted more than 160 from veterans’ family members and will be able to extend its avenue of flags.
VA provides a five-foot by nine-foot U.S. flag to drape the casket at veterans’ funerals. After a funeral service, the flag is presented to a family member or friend of the deceased. At VA national cemeteries, the family is invited to donate the flag for the cemetery’s display on special days along its entrance roadway. The flags normally are flown on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and sometimes Flag Day, the Fourth of July or other patriotic occasions.
Federal law provides for fines and up to 10 years in jail for anyone convicted of theft from federal property like a VA-run national cemetery.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
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