COUNTY

U.S. flags vandalized along Carter Road in Smyrna

Staff Report

U.S. flags like these have been set up throughout the Smyrna-Clayton area as part of a fundraiser by the Smyrna-Clayton July 4th Association. More than 40 of the flags on South Carter Road were vandalized late Thursday night or early Friday morning.

More than 40 American flags set up to celebrate the Fourth of July were vandalized in Smyrna late Thursday night or early Friday morning.

The 42 small flags on wooden sticks about two-feet high were installed in front of homes on South Carter Road as part of the Smyrna-Clayton July 4th Association fundraiser. Homeowners and business owners can purchase the flags from the association which installs the flags then collects and stores the flags until the next patriotic holiday.

July 4th Association member and Smyrna Mayor Joanne Masten said she received the report about the vandalism at 7 a.m. Friday morning.

She and other volunteers replaced the flags.

The value of the flags is about $50, but Masten said the money isn't the issue.

"The point is these are American flags, and whoever did this shows a total lack of respect for the American flag and other people's property," Masten said.