A metropolis councilor and two state lawmakers representing South Boston are denouncing the “disgusting” desecration of American flags that occurred on the Korean Battle Memorial and a army statue Tuesday night time.
Metropolis Councilor Ed Flynn, state Sen. Nick Collins and state Rep. David Biele mentioned Wednesday that the Boston Police Division is investigating the vandalism that occurred on the two South Boston army websites. Flynn filed the police report.
“The people of Boston unequivocally denounce the hate and disgusting vandalism of American flags overnight at the Admiral Farragut Statue and the Korean War Memorial in South Boston,” Flynn, Collins and Biele mentioned in a joint assertion.
The three officers known as for elevated safety digital camera protection to guard public property that honor veterans and “help law enforcement hold those accountable who violate the law by defacing them.”
“It is unacceptable to cause vandalism to an American flag and/or any veterans memorial,” the councilor and state lawmakers mentioned. “In instances of battle and unity, the American flag captures the power and legacy of the USA, our service members, veterans, Gold Star households and our army households.
“These memorials are not just monuments. They are places of remembrance that acknowledge the supreme sacrifice made by these heroic veterans. We stand with our veterans and military families and respect the American flag today and every day,” their joint assertion mentioned.
Flynn, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, mentioned he, Collins, and Biele met with town’s Commissioner of Veterans Companies Robert Santiago and native army veterans on the Medal of Honor Park in South Boston Wednesday afternoon to debate the in a single day vandalism.
The councilor filed a Boston Police report Wednesday morning that describes how American flags have been “ripped out of the ground and strewn about,” with some “torn up” and “destroyed” at a number of places.
Images shared with the Herald present flags knocked over and scattered in entrance of the Korean Battle Memorial on Fortress Island and the statue of Admiral David Farragut, who served within the U.S. Navy in the course of the Civil Battle.
A number of flags have been additionally pictured in the course of the street on East Broadway, throughout from the Medal of Honor Park.
“This is a slap in the face to active duty and veterans,” Thomas McCarthy, commander of the Thomas J. FitzGerald VFW Submit 561, mentioned in a press release he posted to Fb Wednesday. “Why would somebody do that? Do they not know what the flag stands for?
“Some paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and families have had to carry the pain of losing their loved ones. This disrespect is unacceptable,” he added.
Tom Lyons, a Marine veteran who served in Vietnam and chaired the committee that constructed the South Boston Vietnam Memorial that resides in Medal of Honor Park, mentioned studying of the vandalism and disrespect to the flag was “disheartening.”
“It’s hard to fathom why someone would want to do this,” Lyons advised the Herald. “What political statement are you making? That you don’t love your country? Memorials are built by veterans and families of veterans, so it’s not a city or state memorial — it’s a community memorial.”
Requested concerning the nationwide political tensions which have trickled right down to the native stage, Lyons mentioned, “From a political standpoint, I can’t let you know if it was a method of disrespecting native, state or federal authorities.
“I just don’t know,” he mentioned. “I hope it wasn’t. I hope this isn’t a way of wanting to show their dissatisfaction with any political party or individual. But, again, it’s just beyond my reasoning why people would want to do that, when we’re talking about men and women that have served this country, and in terms of memorials, men and women who sacrificed their life for this country.”
Lyons mentioned there was an incident a number of years in the past the place somebody threw paint on the World Battle II memorial in South Boston, however that is the primary time there’s been vandalism that’s impacted a number of battle memorials and it has concerned the flag.
He mentioned Santiago, town’s veterans commissioner, has dedicated to changing the flags that have been destroyed, and that he advised the veterans who gathered on the park that such motion was aimed toward exhibiting “whoever did this they can’t win.”
“It’s important that people know that veterans are not going to sit back and let something like this happen and not have a response,” Lyons mentioned. “That’s what we tried to do today, was let the community know that veterans were upset and veterans were extremely disheartened that someone would do this, particularly this time of year.”
A spokesperson from Mayor Michelle Wu’s workplace mentioned in a press release, “These memorials are staples for our South Boston community, and Commissioner of Veterans’ Services Robert Santiago was on site this morning at Medal of Honor Park with veterans to inspect the damage and will support with the replacement of the flags.”
“Boston Police have been made aware of this incident and are investigating,” town spokesperson added. “Vandalism, particularly on memorials honoring those who’ve sacrificed to serve our country, is never acceptable. With any information, individuals are encouraged to reach Boston Police District C-6 Detectives at 617-343-4742 and Crime Stoppers at 1-800-494-TIPS.”
