Leonard at large 6/4

Before the Memorial Day weekend, I noticed the American Flags had been put up on the square -- which I always appreciate. When I got on Austin, I noticed flags on Austin as well. Having known that plans included getting flags up along Austin for Memorial Day, I was especially impressed with the number of flags and the appearance of those near Cottey College. Later, the MIA/POW bunting on the overpass was observed. Also, flags were placed on veteran graves throughout the county. What had been accomplished by those who put up these memorial flags is an honor to our veterans in Vernon County. A week ago, on Wednesday, a headline on the front page of the Nevada Daily Mail said, "Memorial Day bunting stolen from overpass." Such an act makes my blood boil. It is not other people and situations that causes a person to be upset, but it is ourselves that allow the outside things to affect us on the inside. I am aware of how such things should be handled. Still, I attribute something of this nature to making my blood boil. It is unthinkable that someone would do such a thing, and yet in seeing it, one realizes that someone can bend that low. Now, why in the world would someone take something of this type? What have they done with it or what are they going to do with it? Perhaps it is someone from another community. If anyone display it in this area, someone would recognized it and know where it came from. Perhaps, they have destroyed it. This shows disrespect for our veterans, our community, and our country. I would like to get hold of the ones that did this and whip them with a four-leaf clover. I really want to give them a beating. Judy Knowles, our local "flag lady," in her efforts to honor the heros of our nation is a heroine herself. However, she does not think of herself in this manner. She has seen a need, has given leadership, and is a driving force in getting the flags on the graves and getting flags placed along Austin. This lady has and continues to pay special tribute to veterans and has earned the respect for us to refer to her as the "flag lady." Our community should be grateful to her. Judy has contribute countless hours as well as making financial contributions. She does not do it all by herself, but enlists the help of many other volunteers and donors. The article, written by Justin Baldwin, said, "The missing bunting can be returned quietly to Knowles at Sears on Austin. She promises that no questions will be asked and no charges will be filed." Still, as of Monday, the bunting had not been returned. She has an open mind to make this type of offer. Such setbacks do not keep her from continuing to do what she is doing. She plans to chain the bunting to the banister in the future in hopes that it will help to keep this from happening. It is too bad that such a thing has to be done. When property vandalizing takes place, it causes my blood to boil. An example of this is the vandalizing that occurs in the parks. It is hard to understand that the Christmas lights get stolen or damage when a major effort is made to create something that many people enjoy. Thourgh the years there has been vandalizing at the fair grounds. One of the lowest things that someone can do is to take flowers from a grave. Why would they be so disrespectful? Do they use them on other graves, or are they sold through flea markets? Regardless it continues to happen -- it makes my blood boil. On Memorial Day, I visited at a cemetery with Robert Miller, a high school class mate. His lifetime career has been as a florist and he continues to assist and help with his daughter, who now has the family business. He said that he knows what he is going to do when he crosses over from this life experience. He said that he is going to straighten out the flowers at the cemetery and will haunt those that steal flowers from the graves. Such scandles deserve to be haunted. He was telling about people buying flowers and have them deliver and place on graves. Many of these flowers are stolen. Most people are good, respectable people and good citizens. There are a small portion that are not and these individuals makes my blood boil, at least I allow them to do that to me.