Donations Fly In After Swiping Of Monument Stars And Stripes

A big replacement flag will soon fly above the World War I honor roll on .

Hopefully, within a week.

And the town will have replacements for the replacement. Several donors have stepped forth to replace the stolen Old Glory, said town veterans agent Jim Schultz.

The stolen Stars and Stripes by a thief or thieves in the early morning hours after July 4.

It was a new 20- by 30-foot flag donated by the family of US Army , 20, who was killed in 2006 while serving in Iraq.

On July 5, the veterans agent received calls from people who wanted to donate a replacement flag.

The first one was from an anonymous donor out of Salem.

Next, the agent received a donation from the Rooney family, former owner of on Humphrey Street.

Another flag was donated by a Swampscott man.

And just this morning, Monday, Schultz learned that Eastern Bank wants to donate the full cost of the flag. The flags sell for about $1,000.

In addition the flag fund has received checks totalling about $600.

The replacements will come in handy.

Big flags tend to fray in the wind.

With replacements in waiting the town will be able to change out flags every several months and prolong their life, the veterans agent said.

The town is ordering its big flags from America's oldest and largest flag manufacturer, Annin Flagmakers, whose corporate office is based in Roseland, NJ.

When the new flags arrive, the Swampscott Fire Department will take one of the the 50-pound flags to Monument Avenue and raise it with their ladder truck.

And once again the Monument Avenue landmark will be in place.