Sadness and outrage have been replaced with tears of joy at the American Legion Post 164 in Citronelle.
After NBC 15 in Mobile on Wednesday broke the original story of a “coward disgracing our country” who cut down and stole the American flag from the local veterans at Post 164, the community in southwest Alabama came together as one to replace it.
The outpouring of compassion and patriotism included Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-1), who represents the area in Congress.
This is a shame. My office will be sending the #Citronelle American Legion an American flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol. https://t.co/jpKGCSwYU4
— Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) August 23, 2018
Other community members stepped up to immediately replace the stolen flag, too – including Eloise and Willard Frost. Since NBC 15’s story first aired, the phones have been ringing off the hook at Post 164.
“I feel appreciated, absolutely,” veteran Johnny Richardson told NBC 15. “That’s the way it should be.”
Post 164’s Harry Bedgood echoed Richardson, saying, “That picks you up, that picks you up and carries you on and the response has been mind-boggling.”
World War II veteran David Kelly, 90, felt personally attacked after the theft, as his family has sacrificed time and again for the nation’s flag and freedom.
“My oldest brother got killed, my other brother got wounded, and he died and my uncle died,” Kelly explained. “World War II in Germany and one in Japan.”
Now, things are looking up.
“I don’t know what to say,” Kelly said, with tears of joy streaming down his face.
He added, “Well, I do…Thank you, thank you everybody.”
Watch:
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
