A 4th of July Theft Of Monument Avenue American Flag

No day is a good day for someone to steal the town's 20-foot by 30-foot flag from the Monument Avenue flag pole, said the town's veterans agent, Jim Schultz.

But the 4th of July adds insult to injury.

"They couldn't have picked a worse day to do that," said the Swampscott veterans' agent and Marine Corps veteran.

Authorities discovered the flag was missing this morning, July 5th.

It must have been taken during the overnight hours and it likely involved a few people.

This is the town's large flag, called a garrison flag in the military, that is flown from the Monument Avenue pole from about mid-May. Later in the year, a smaller flag goes up in its place to better withstand stormy weather.

It's no easy feat to remove the flag. The lock box with the flag's lanyard rope is some 12 feet off the ground.

Someone had to climb on top of the World War I monument, about 8 feet off the ground, in order to reach the lanyard, the veterans' agent said.

The flag weighs about 50 pounds and typically takes a few people to raise and lower it, he said.

Schultz believes the flag, which cost almost $1,000, was donated by the Raymond family.

The flag pole stands in the line of monuments and memorials, a Swampscott landmark.

And it was likely taken on or around the Fourth of July.

"A Yankee Doodle dandy," Schultz said.

His original reaction was disgust.

The best thing that can happen at this point is the flag reappears, or it is recovered and the thieves are caught, he said.

The theft would have taken an estimated 15 minutes to a half hour.

If anybody saw anything they can report it to at (781) 595-1111.

If someone wants to report the location of the flag they can also call the town veterans' office at 781-596-8853.