American Legion finds flags stolen

Freedom New Mexico

Members of Clovis’ American Legion Post 117 are reeling from a theft that struck at the core of their values.

Sometime July 6, the post’s three flags were stolen from their poles in front of the unit.

“It hurts for someone to remove those flags,” Cmdr. David Jackson said.

The American, New Mexico and POW flags are proudly waved 24-hours a day, seven days a week, according to Jackson.

“We leave our flags out. (They’re) so beautiful flying, we don’t take them down. It’s something to be proud of,” he said.

According to a police report released Thursday, the value of the flags and cost of damage to one of the poles where a line was cut is estimated around $300.

Jackson said the unit has been in its new location at 2800 Grand Ave. for about eight weeks.

In 2004, the former home of Post 117, located at 1400 W. Seventh St., was destroyed by fire.

It has taken almost four years for the veterans' group to construct and open the new post.

Jackson said the flags were hoisted at the new post about a month ago.

“I don’t understand their motive for taking the flags,” he said. “(We’re) very upset. They could have come to us and we would have given them some flags. I just don’t understand it.”

Jackson said replacement flags will be flown Saturday.