Memorial Day bunting stolen from overpass

Wednesday, May 28, 2003

There is a thief on the loose in Nevada. Between 11 p.m. May 26 and 7 o'clock the next morning, someone stole the MIA/POW bunting from the Austin Boulevard overpass. Judy Knowles, the local "flag lady" and the power behind the Memorial Day flag movement, said "I don't care who stole it. I just want it back." Knowles said that, in the past, she had placed flags along the overpass but the wind shear at that location gave them quite of beating. So, last year, Knowles chained the bunting down and admits that she probably should have done so again this year. However, she had made sure that it was firmly secured and wouldn't fall off. Knowles is very frustrated that someone had the audacity to steal the MIA/POW bunting. In Knowles's view, that bunting and all of the flags around town and in cemeteries belong to the veterans of Vernon County. The fact that someone would steal one is a sad statement about how some people feel about veterans, she said. "We are free because these people fought for us," said Knowles. Knowles also spearheads the annual effort to place flags around the Square, along Austin Blvd., and on the graves of Vernon County veterans. She worried that the next step could be people climbing up poles to steal flags. She reported that she has also had a problem with people stealing memorial flags that adorn veterans' graves. However, since she has started putting a row of flags at the entrance to the cemetery, as extras for any veterans that are missed, flag theft has declined. There are a surprising number of veterans in Vernon County. From the Civil War to more modern conflicts, Vernon County is literally built on the bones of veterans. In Newton Cemetery alone there are more than 3,700 graves of those who served in the military. Most of the graves of veterans have military footstones, but this is not always the case. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, the footstone will not be placed, which means that a grave may not get a flag. "If I skipped your vet, I'm sorry," said Knowles. Many residents remember that last year Knowles was almost put in jail for hanging her bunting on the overpass. Despite this setback, she defiantly proclaimed: "I will finish the bridge," adding that she will not be dissuaded from her purpose by anyone stealing her goods. Eventually, Knowles hopes to have the whole of Austin Boulevard artfully decked out like the area around Cottey College. To come up with the money to buy all of these flags Knowles accepts gifts from private residents and corporations, including $1000 from Wal-mart. Knowles takes note of the donations and put the names of the donors on the flags. The missing bunting can be returned quietly to Knowles at Sears on Austin. She promises that no questions will be asked and no charges will be filed.

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