"Veteran Wants Flag Vandals To Take Responsibility For Crime"

COLLIN COUNTY (CBS 11 NEWS) – Plano veteran Larry Lorance always has a flag flying at his home. And he’s fed up with having to replace it.

Lorance’s front door flag was destroyed for the third time early Friday morning. He says his verbal response to the attack isn’t fit for publication; but, he thought ‘my gosh, they did it again.’

“A lot of men and women gave their lives for this flag,” he said sternly, adding that, “as an American, and as a veteran, I was offended by that.”

Lorance didn’t report the vandalism to Plano police, saying he was a teen once and doesn’t want the vandals to have a record. But, he is posting the surveillance video online at fireengines.net/flag in the hope of turning the disrespectful mess into a teachable moment.

“These kids need to step up, say ‘I did this.’ I’ll shake their hands and say ‘thank you for standing up and being a man, let’s take care of it.’”

In keeping with the federal flag code, Lorance said his damaged flag will be properly destroyed this weekend, by a local VFW chapter.

CBS Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas - video at "read more"