All Star Flags September 20, 2011 | All Star Flags

Someone burns American flag erected for 9/11 anniversary

On Saturday afternoon, Jennifer Saucier put up an American flag outside her Wilmington business, Prima Day Spay, in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

“Tuesday morning when I drove up I noticed that the flag wasn’t flying,” Saucier said. “When I got closer, I noticed the pole was all black and singed. Somebody burned it.”

The flag pole had been attached to the wall, and pieces of the burned flag were on the ground under the pole.

“I was really upset,” Saucier said. “Now, I’m kind of thinking maybe it was just a kid who doesn’t understand the weight of things like that, but that’s sad too.”

For now, she has another flag hanging inside the door of the spa, which is at 5101 Dunlea Court. Her husband is going to get another pole to fly the flag outside the spa, she said.

Wilmington Police took a report of the burning of the flag, valued at $50, but the odds the person responsible will be caught are slim.

“I don’t think we have a clue, and I don’t think it’s going to be easy to solve,” said Lucy Crockett, a police spokeswoman.

Saucier said she planned to ask someone at the neighboring Target store if its exterior cameras filmed the front of her business.

“It could have easily caught the building on fire,” she said.

A Wilmington company, All Star Flags, called Saucier after hearing about what happened and told her they would be donating a flagpole for the spa’s new flag.

www.starnewsonline.com

WILMINGTON | Two Wilmington companies are working together to pay honor and respect to those who have fought and given their lives to serve and protect our country. Coble Ward-Smith Funeral and Cremation Services and All Star Flags are teaming up to make this a reality.

With help from All Star Flags, three flag poles were installed in front of Coble Ward-Smith on Oleander Drive, along with a memory garden.

Scott Teague, general manager of Coble Ward-Smith, came up with the idea of honoring military burials, and turned to All Star Flags for help.

“On the days we have funeral services for personnel from any of the five military branches we will fly the appropriate armed forces flag at half-staff for the entire days we’re serving these families,” Teague said.

A dedication ceremony will be held at a later date at Coble Ward-Smith, 3915 Oleander Drive.

All Star Flags has since helped Coble Ward-Smith with a similar project at their Southport, NC location, recently installing three flagpoles at that facility.

www.starnewsonline.com