American and POW-MIA flags burned by vandals at Southern California memorial for veterans

Austin Turner
·2 min read

Flags were burned by vandals at a memorial for veterans in Lakewood sometime in the last few days, according to the city’s Mayor.

In a post to Facebook on Saturday afternoon, Mayor Todd Rogers blasted the actions of unknown vandals who allegedly burned American and MIA-POW flags placed at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Lakewood’s Del Valle Park.

“On behalf of the entire Lakewood City Council, I am saddened and angered to report that our American flag and POW-MIA flag were burned by vandals at our beloved Veterans Memorial Plaza at Del Valle Park sometime over the past 48 hours,” Rogers said. “The memorial itself also sustained some minor damage in the form of burn marks to a flag pole and concrete walkway. The flags appear to have then been burned on top of a nearby yellow sawhorse barrier that asks people to treat the memorial with respect.”

Rogers continued to say that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will investigate the incident. He asked any residents or businesses within the vicinity of the park to check any security footage between July 4 and 6 for suspicious-looking individuals.

“I know I speak on behalf of my City Council colleagues and all Lakewood residents in decrying this shameful act of vandalism that shows great disrespect to the men and women who have served our nation, including those honored at the memorial who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms that these cowardly vandals abused,” Rogers said.

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According to Rogers, repairs and replacement flags should be in place within the next few days.

Veterans Memorial Plaza, created in 1964 and renovated in 2015, displays a replica of a Korean War-era Douglas jet fighter mounted on top of an aircraft carrier. It hosts Lakewood’s Memorial Day festivities each year.

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