Huge American flag stolen from California veterans cemetery
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An alternate smaller American flag flies over the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Monday, May 31, 2020. Authorities said a huge American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from a Southern California veterans cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. Les Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration, said the garrison flag at Los Angeles National Cemetery was reported stolen sometime late Sunday or early Monday. Veterans Affairs police are investigating the theft of the flag, which measures 25 feet by 30 feet, Melnyk said. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)An alternate smaller American flag flies over the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Monday, May 31, 2020. Authorities said a huge American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from a Southern California veterans cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. Les Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration, said the garrison flag at Los Angeles National Cemetery was reported stolen sometime late Sunday or early Monday. Veterans Affairs police are investigating the theft of the flag, which measures 25 feet by 30 feet, Melnyk said. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)Veterans and their families take a picture with an alternate smaller American flag flying over the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Monday, May 31, 2020. Authorities said a huge American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from a Southern California veterans cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. Les Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration, said the garrison flag at Los Angeles National Cemetery was reported stolen sometime late Sunday or early Monday. Veterans Affairs police are investigating the theft of the flag, which measures 25 feet by 30 feet (7.6 meters by 9.1 meters), Melnyk said. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)Members of the Gaviola family visit the grave of their 24-year-old son, PFC Mikhail John Alvarez at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Monday, May 31, 2020. The annual Memorial Day commemoration was held with the public in attendance. Authorities said a huge American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from a Southern California veterans cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. Les Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration, said the garrison flag at Los Angeles National Cemetery was reported stolen sometime late Sunday or early Monday. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)CORRECTS YEAR A U.S. Marine Corps, who wants to remain anonymous, honors veterans graves at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Monday, May 31, 2021. He has placed American flags for the last 15-years, first as a boy scout, this year as a U.S. Marine. Authorities said a giant American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from a Southern California veterans cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. Les' Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration, said the garrison flag at Los Angeles National Cemetery was reported stolen sometime late Sunday or early Monday. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)A U.S. Marine Corps, who wants to remain anonymous, salutes veterans at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Monday, May 31, 2021. He has been honoring American veterans's graves for the last 15-years, first as a boy scout, this year as a U.S. Marine. Authorities said a giant American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from a Southern California veterans cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. Les' Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration, said the garrison flag at Los Angeles National Cemetery was reported stolen sometime late Sunday or early Monday. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
An alternate smaller American flag flies over the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Monday, May 31, 2020. Authorities said a huge American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from a Southern California veterans cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. Les Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration, said the garrison flag at Los Angeles National Cemetery was reported stolen sometime late Sunday or early Monday. Veterans Affairs police are investigating the theft of the flag, which measures 25 feet by 30 feet, Melnyk said. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
LOS ANGELES – Authorities said a huge American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from a Southern California veterans cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend.
Les' Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration, said the garrison flag at Los Angeles National Cemetery was reported stolen sometime late Sunday or early Monday.
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The cemetery's gates were closed at the time, Melnyk said.
Veterans Affairs police are investigating the theft of the flag, which measures 25 feet by 30 feet (7.6 meters by 9.1 meters), Melnyk said.
The crime “cannot detract in the slightest way from the honor and respect we pay on this Memorial Day to those service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” Melnyk said.
Rebekah Adams, a volunteer at the Los Angeles National Cemetery Support Foundation, said it would be difficult to remove the flag that is usually handled by three people.
“It's so sad and shocking something like this would happen on Memorial Day,” Adams said.
The cemetery dates to the late 19th century and is operated by the Veterans Administration.
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