Community Corner

Ballwin Veteran Has Stolen U.S. Flags Returned

An anonymous letter apologized for the flag theft which took place shortly after the July 4th holiday.

A Korean War veteran who had his patriotism thwarted by a prankster who stole one hundred American flags set around a Ballwin neighborhood doesn't know for sure who did it, but he has an apology, and now he also has the flags back.

More than 160 people shared our original story on Facebook, chronicling the efforts of Walter Schoenke's neighbors to collect flags to replace the ones stolen after the July 4th holiday.

Robin Ragsdale, one of Schoenke's neighbors, commented Friday on that story, to share that an apology had been received, via an anonymous letter:

"It seems to be from a kid who was out "flagging" with friends (filling a friend's yard with flags, like teepeeing) and got carried away when they heard about the flags lining our street. The letter thanks Walter for his service and offers to return the flags, " she wrote. "At least the mystery is solved and the kids learned a lesson about how our thoughtless actions can affect others."

Schoenke confirmed to Patch Monday afternoon that the flags were left at his front door Friday morning.

Now, Schoenke is focused on the next chance he'll have to decorate his neighborhood with flags--Veterans Day--and the fact that he's got double the supply to do it, meaning more of his Green Lantern Lane neigbhors will them.

"I got a lot of volunteers this time," Schoenke said.


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