Local residents upset by flag burning

By R. Scott Lohman

Two patriotic DeKalb residents are quite upset following the burning of the American flag which hung on the side of their house.

The flag was burned some time between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of S. First Street. The DeKalb Police said the flag and its pole were destroyed totally.

Complainant Maggie Houser said she and Jim Vaughn have flown the flag at their residence all summer because they are very patriotic, and when Vaughn went out at 5 a.m. to go to work he thought the flag was just missing. After looking further, he noticed the flag had been burned, Houser said.

Although the physical damage was only about $20, the anger which was caused was much worse. Houser said this “malicious lighting of the flag is very disheartening.” She also said she “would not be so upset if (the flag) was just stolen. You just don’t burn the flag.”

Patriotism ranks very high with Houser and Vaughn. Houser’s mother and father both served the U.S. Coast Guard in World War II. Vaughn’s father was involved in the Korean conflict. His grandmother is also patriotic. She made a latch-hook American eagle with a flag in the background which hangs proudly on the front door of Vaughn and Houser’s house.

Houser said she flies the American flag because it’s a “beautiful thing.” She also said she plans on buying another flag as soon as she gets to the store.

Houser also said she didn’t know who would do such a malicious act.