American flag vandalized in town park

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Print
The flag after being recovered and cleaned.

TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – An American flag was defaced at a town park recently and the community at large is outraged, Poughkeepsie Town Supervisor Jay Baisley said.

An American flag at the Stanley Still Park on Jackson Road in the town was noticed to be missing by a group of men on Wednesday morning.  The men, after their walk, discovered the flag at the bottom of a portable bathroom at the park. The men called the company responsible for maintaining the primitive plumbing and asked them to recover the flag.  The company declined, saying they needed approval from the town.  The Town of Poughkeepsie Police were notified and an officer responded while two of the men retrieved the flag.  It was then cleaned and an officer made arrangements for the flag to be picked up by representatives from the American Legion.

Supervisor Baisley was angered by the incident. “The Town of Poughkeepsie is disgusted at the inexcusable act of vandalism that took place at Stanley Still Park on July 15.  That vandalism is disgraceful and illegal and the individuals will be prosecuted when caught.”

Noting that the flag had previously flown over a ball field that had just reopened Monday for a game for athletes aged 60 and over, Baisley said, “The desecration of the American flag will not be tolerated in the Town of Poughkeepsie.  Many men and women have fought for our country and lost their lives fighting for the freedoms that stand behind the flag. During these times, we understand the people’s right to protest and express their thoughts, but the damage to public property is unacceptable.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to call the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department at 845-485-3666.

 




Popular Stories