Trashed American flags outrage Waxahachie veteran

11:24 AM CDT on Tuesday, June 2, 2009

By GARY REAVES / WFAA-TV

Video at the link

Honoring Our Flag June 2nd, 2009

Waxahachie animal control officer Warren Howell loves his job so much he brought home orphan raccoons for safekeeping.

Howell, whose father fought in two wars, also loves the American flag, which he has on the back of his Jeep. But he said that pride took a hit when he glimpsed some stars and stripes while driving past a local thrift shop.

"It's got to be a towel or a blanket or something," he said to himself when he spotted two American flags stashed with some trash.

One of the flags was on the ground.

"This represents what we stand for," Howell said. "If we ourselves — in our own country, on our own streets — are throwing the symbol of what we stand for together, what makes us think that the rest of the world is going to think any better of us?"

Despite being torn and tattered, Howell hung those flags proudly on the front of his home.

"They've seen wear; so has out nation," he said. "We're not going to throw out 233 years of history just because it needs a little fixing."


WFAA-TV
Warren Howell has a large American flag in the back of his Jeep. Now, Howell said he plans to deliver the flags to the local Boy Scouts for proper disposal.

"It's time to retire these, but retire them the proper way and hang new ones for the future," he said.

The owner of the shop where the flags were dumped said someone threw them away after the store was closed.

E-mail greaves@wfaa.com

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