Bizarre burning – and firefighters’ fast replacement – of American Legion Post 160 flag

(WSB photo)

If you drove by American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle this evening and noticed SPD and yellow tape – here’s what brought them there: A case of flag-burning. We found out from a texted tip (thank you); the tipster said the Ladder 11 crew from Station 32 across the street had not only extinguished the fire, they had quickly donated a flag to replace the one that had been burned, and sent this photo:

When we arrived, police were getting ready to leave; we talked to the Station 32 crew, and to Post 160 commander Keith Hughes. He told us the flag was ignited by a man who’s been helping out around the Post for a while in exchange for permission to sleep on the porch. He does a variety of odd jobs and has been very helpful, Hughes said. But today, he took down the flag that flies outside Post 160 – then put it up again, brought it down again, and then for unknown reasons, set it on fire. That brought SFD – you’ll see the “illegal burn” call on the Real-Time 911 log – and police. The suspect, meantime, took off and had not been found when we talked with officers at the scene. What remains of the burned flag is in this bag:

Hughes tells us they’ll keep it until their next scheduled flag-disposal ceremony.

33 Replies to "Bizarre burning - and firefighters' fast replacement - of American Legion Post 160 flag"

  • B.W. May 7, 2019 (7:48 pm)

    Thank you SFD 32 for going above and beyond. Burning our country’s flag is a direct slap in the face to some of us. I for one am proud to live in the United States of America. 

    • Jethro Marx May 7, 2019 (8:49 pm)

      Pride can be funny; sometimes it makes your face sensitive. Have you ever traded labor for a spot on the porch for the night?

      • Chuck May 8, 2019 (2:08 pm)

        Hard to follow your point here Jethro, as usual. One of our community members is PROUD to be an American, and is rightfully insulted by someone who does not share our values (his and mine at least, certainly not including you in this Patriotic notion). The story is about a person in need who was receiving help, and showed his “thanks” by burning the flag. No good deed goes unpublished and all that. But your attempt to  minimize this despicable act by turning the focus on a Patriot neighbor is just evidence of the decay so evident in our society. You’re welcome to leave the USofA any time you please. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. 

        • Chris May 8, 2019 (5:48 pm)

          Blindly labeling people as Patriots or not Patriots is dangerous.Unless they are New England Patriots. Then we need to point them out so we can egg their cars

        • Jethro Marx May 9, 2019 (12:04 am)

          I appreciate that you try to follow my point, although it sounds like you don’t care for me to be part of your community. That’s funny, because I’d expect someone who spells patriotism with capital letters to have great respect for the freedom to disagree and say it out loud. But then, we live in a country that spent roughly $600 billion on warfare this year but this guy’s sleeping on a porch and probably low on food and healthcare. I ain’t proud of that. But I am proud that we have veterans in West Seattle who do what they can to help. But anyway, here’s the point: has B.W. ever been in the position this alleged burner is in? Have you? Does it sound like the actions of a man who’s in control of his life and trying to make a political point? You and B.W. seem to have a political point to make, and that’s fine. But it’s a stupid one, and it’s at the expense of a man who doesn’t need your derision heaped on him. He (and I, for that matter) are part of your community, like it or not.

    • CatLady May 7, 2019 (8:51 pm)

      A reminder that it’s also constitutionally protected free speech. I’m actually not proud to live in a country founded on genocide, slavery, and colonialism, but to each their own. I have a feeling this flag burning has less to do with the guy’s thoughts on this country and more to do with untreated mental health issues, but I could be wrong about that…

      • Howard May 7, 2019 (11:18 pm)

        Flag burning is constitutionally protected free speech but not if its someones else’s flag!

      • WS Guy May 7, 2019 (11:48 pm)

        I’m very proud of this country and it’s history.  Among other great things, it was one of the first to end slavery (which involved quite a bit of bloodshed) after it was in common practice for thousands of years of human civilization.  It protects free speech, although not to the extent to burning a flag that does not belong to you.  It values the right to bear arms as a last resort defense against an oppressive government.  I’m sorry that you do not feel likewise, but there may be other countries out there that you can be proud of.

        • donttreadonme May 8, 2019 (8:51 am)

          Regardless of anything else, this country was one of the last to abolish slavery, not one of the first.

        • James Frank Walker May 8, 2019 (7:03 pm)

          Not sure what this has to do with flag burning but the U.S. was not early to abolish slavery.

      • AlkiMan May 8, 2019 (10:19 am)

        CatLady, are you aware that there are some countries that would not only not allow you to make those comments openly, but that you would be executed for your open disapproval of the government?  Are you also aware that slavery and genocide are still rampant in some parts of the world? For example, Africa has the highest rate of modern day slavery. There are people all over the world being executed for being homosexual and some women in other countries are being sold into marriage. So, I apologize if I scoff at your comment of you not being proud to live in the U.S. because of the past incidents. As far as I can see, I think we have it pretty good. 

        • CAM May 9, 2019 (2:43 pm)

          Translation: Other people have it worse than you therefore it must be perfect here. 

      • The kid May 8, 2019 (10:50 am)

        Why are you here then? 

    • Jethro Marx May 7, 2019 (8:54 pm)

      I should say, also, those are some badass firefighters, doing double duty, putting out the blaze and replacing the flag!

  • WSeaFam May 7, 2019 (8:11 pm)

    The man who burned the flag was also harassing the kids and teachers at the daycare playground across the street. They all had to head inside early because of his attention.

  • JAFO May 7, 2019 (8:20 pm)

    Totally agree with your sentiments B.W.

  • Alki resident May 7, 2019 (8:22 pm)

    Just when you think you can’t love the fire dept any more, my heart over flows with love and respect. Thank you so much❤️

  • Yma May 7, 2019 (8:47 pm)

    Dang – that person obviously needs help.

  • Jon Wright May 7, 2019 (9:14 pm)

    Thanks to American Legion Post 160 for trying to help this individual.

  • kg May 7, 2019 (10:36 pm)

    I don’t think it’s constitutionally protected speech to burn a US flag, or anything else for that matter, you don’t own.A big Thank You to the Firefighters.

  • Sam Eagle May 8, 2019 (11:40 am)

    Burning things isn’t speech.

    • C L S May 9, 2019 (10:14 am)

      SCOTUS disagrees with this comment.

  • KM May 8, 2019 (12:50 pm)

    Might I ask, what is a flag-disposal ceremony?

    • WSB May 8, 2019 (12:58 pm)

      https://www.legion.org/flag/ceremony

      • Bill May 8, 2019 (2:06 pm)

        Can one drop off an America Flag at the American Legion if it needs to be retired?  If so what time is the Legion open?Thank You

      • KM May 8, 2019 (2:40 pm)

        Interesting! Thanks for the link.

  • West Seattle Guy May 8, 2019 (2:41 pm)

    While this clearly wasn’t legal as the man burned property that was not his – for the folks discussing the legal aspects of burning a flag you actually own.  From an interview with Justice Scalia:”If I were king, I would not allow people to go around burning the American flag. However, we have a First Amendment, which says that the right of free speech shall not be abridged — and it is addressed in particular to speech critical of the government,” Scalia said. “That was the main kind of speech that tyrants would seek to suppress”

  • LyndaB May 8, 2019 (2:55 pm)

    Several years ago, a local Boy Scout troop held a flag retiring ceremony at Alki.  I brought our flag there to retire.   

  • JAH May 8, 2019 (5:48 pm)

    Well, I saw this story on KOMO, actually, and only caught a little. I don’t know George, but I am familiar with him, and happened to know that he’d been staying in the porch there. So, I did a little Google search, and found that it’s not actually illegal to burn a tattered flag. However there is a proper ceremony that should be done in the event you choose to retire a flag by burning it. It sounds like George may not have done the proper ceremony. I don’t believe he did it because he has I’ll feelings toward America. https://www.americandisposal.com/blog/retiring-an-american-flag

  • Nick May 9, 2019 (2:34 am)

    I would hope everyone could agree regardless of their political beliefs that burning the flag in any capacity other than a proper retirement is just plain wrong. Although it is free speech and should be allowed to take place (if burned legally, unlike in this story) if someone decides to do so. I support the right to burn the flag, but it’s also my right to not have an ounce of respect for those that do.

  • CHARLES May 9, 2019 (8:23 am)

    I was taught as a child that if a flag touched the ground that it had to be burned….I read up on the flag and it’s traditions, and have since learned that that is not ENTIRELY true.  What I learned is that when a “flag becomes soiled or unsuitable for display, it is to be destroyed in a dignified manner such as burning.”  I never thought of burning as dignified, but then again, we cremate our loved ones.  It’s possible this person, while maybe a little troubled, was “fulfilling their patriotic duty.”

  • rico May 9, 2019 (10:58 am)

    Might as well ask the man himself, good chance he is sitting around the neighborhood right now, planning the next phase of his life

  • Saddened Citizen May 20, 2019 (8:10 am)

    I had a few encounters with this gentleman a month or two ago he was intoxicated heavily and harassed a bunch of people at the VFW for an event we were hosting. I hate seeing people suffer but I agree that flag burning especially on that property is not cool. 

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