8404
02-04-2008, 19:46
Patriot Guard Riders hard at work!
By Seamus O’Connor - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 4, 2008 16:38:22 EST
A retired general living in Bedford, Texas, has been victimized by unknown perpetrators who have repeatedly stolen the American flag flying outside the general’s home.
Brig. Gen. Archie Mayes’ flag has been stolen, taken down and had its pole snapped nine times since last February. Sometimes the flag is found down the street or left in a neighborhood pickup truck’s bed; most recently, the flag and its metal pole were shoved through a window of Mayes’ home workshop.
Mayes, whose story was first reported by Fox News, put a security camera near the flag in October and caught some images of the bandits. The vandals’ faces are never seen, but the tapes show a woman and man, both in their teens or early 20s , according to Bedford Police Department spokesman Lt. Kirk Roberts.
“We have not identified any suspects off that video,” Roberts told Air Force Times.
Mayes, who served in World War II and Vietnam, has no idea who is behind the crimes, or why.
“Maybe somebody knows I’m retired military and they don’t like that ... maybe somebody doesn’t like the American flag,” he told Air Force Times. “But they’re very persistent, and they’re mean as heck about it.”
Mayes remains determined to keep the flag flying.
“I served 35 years in the military under that flag, and I’m going to fly it if I wanna fly it, and they ain’t gonna stop me,” he said.
And he’s not alone.
Local and national TV news reports have brought floods of support. On Saturday, about 200 members of the Patriot Riders came to Mayes’ residence to show support, planting flags all over the yard.
“They put on the damndest show a Saturday ever seen,” Mayes said.
The riders also promised to install a 25-foot, ground-lighted, key-locked flagpole in Mayes’ yard to prevent future thefts, Mayes said.
SOURCE: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/airforce_mayes_flagtheives_080204w/
Bedford, Texas is only 20 minutes from where I live. It's nice to know we have our very own General.
By Seamus O’Connor - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 4, 2008 16:38:22 EST
A retired general living in Bedford, Texas, has been victimized by unknown perpetrators who have repeatedly stolen the American flag flying outside the general’s home.
Brig. Gen. Archie Mayes’ flag has been stolen, taken down and had its pole snapped nine times since last February. Sometimes the flag is found down the street or left in a neighborhood pickup truck’s bed; most recently, the flag and its metal pole were shoved through a window of Mayes’ home workshop.
Mayes, whose story was first reported by Fox News, put a security camera near the flag in October and caught some images of the bandits. The vandals’ faces are never seen, but the tapes show a woman and man, both in their teens or early 20s , according to Bedford Police Department spokesman Lt. Kirk Roberts.
“We have not identified any suspects off that video,” Roberts told Air Force Times.
Mayes, who served in World War II and Vietnam, has no idea who is behind the crimes, or why.
“Maybe somebody knows I’m retired military and they don’t like that ... maybe somebody doesn’t like the American flag,” he told Air Force Times. “But they’re very persistent, and they’re mean as heck about it.”
Mayes remains determined to keep the flag flying.
“I served 35 years in the military under that flag, and I’m going to fly it if I wanna fly it, and they ain’t gonna stop me,” he said.
And he’s not alone.
Local and national TV news reports have brought floods of support. On Saturday, about 200 members of the Patriot Riders came to Mayes’ residence to show support, planting flags all over the yard.
“They put on the damndest show a Saturday ever seen,” Mayes said.
The riders also promised to install a 25-foot, ground-lighted, key-locked flagpole in Mayes’ yard to prevent future thefts, Mayes said.
SOURCE: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/airforce_mayes_flagtheives_080204w/
Bedford, Texas is only 20 minutes from where I live. It's nice to know we have our very own General.