Rash Of American Flag Burnings Become An Alarming Trend In Roselle Park, N.J.

Residents Disgusted, Police Concerned Stunts Could Harm Homes

July 14, 2011 8:52 PM

Residents in Roselle Park, N.J., have been waking up to seeing their American flags burned. Police are concerned homes could be damaged. (Photo: CBS 2)

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ROSELLE PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Who is torching American flags?

It’s a disturbing and potentially dangerous trend in one New Jersey community, reports CBS 2’s Scott Rapoport.

Someone is definitely up to something sinister in Roselle Park.‪

A day or two before the Fourth of July, two homes on West Colfax Avenue and another on East Lincoln Avenue all had their flags burned. The charred black remains of Robert Lingenfelter’s flag are still stuck to his pavement.

“It’s not the thing to do to burn something like that,” Lingenfelter said.

Over at Jill Stanton’s house, the situation was just as bad.

“It was just shocking to me,” she said. “Someone burned it. There was nothing left of the flag. It was burned down to the metal.”

Then just this past Tuesday a home on Chestnut Street had its flag torched.‪

Throughout the town many are asking themselves the same questions: who’s doing this and why?

“To desecrate the flag like that, I just don’t understand it,” resident Clem Gibeault told CBS 2’s Rapoport.

“It’s very unpatriotic … and disgusting,” another resident added.

Roselle Park police officers are on the case and more than a little concerned. They said the flag burnings are more than just a disrespectful act; it’s an act of arson.

“The danger is the flag is attached to the residence. And if the residence were to catch fire you’re now endangering lives,” Roselle Police Chief Paul Morrison said.‪

Police said they are investigating, hoping to put the heat on the firebug who’s torching old glory.

Police speculate the flag burnings could be the work of some kids on a dare, or someone with a grudge against the military.

Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below.

Rash Of American Flag Burnings Become An Alarming Trend In Roselle Park, N.J.

cole

Looks like the liberals are out again showing their patriotism
Alex Winter

Just some liberal who hates America. I hope someone finds them and beat them senseless.
Bob A

Thats what you get in a very liberal Democrat state. Disrespect, criticize. hate America negro Democrats!

Bob

I served with many in OIF 6-8 and 9-10, in Baghdad. Amen Jarhead. I am Army green before I am any race.

Hooah.
CPT Redleg

Old Fellow

Jay if you’re ashamed of being an American than by all means leave. I’m sure many of us on this commentary wuld take up a collection for your one way ticket to ABA! (Anywhere but America)
Broker Bob

I’m 71 and grew up in NJ at a time when you learned to respect the Flag and the Lord’s Prayer in the school system.

I am sure the Flag’s are being burned by inocent kids in today’s Anti American and God shool system that simply do not know better.

Do not blame them, balme the system that has extended itselh all the way to the White House.

Jarhead6981

The only thing mindless I see is your attitude. Yes, in basic understanding, a flag IS just fabric. What WE are saying (and not blindly BTW), is that this flag stands for something. Evidently this is beyond your understanding as well.

The flag code is not a “dictated” directive, but a guide to respect for it. Try believing in something more than your dribble if you want respect in return.
Matt

Dan,

I am not 70, but I am a veteran. You do not understand the significance of the symbol. Your liberal mindset that pressures you to ridicule what others hold dear is plainly visible. There are flag draped caskets returning to the US with the remains of men and women that have paid the cost of freedom with their lives. Until you have had to escort one of the caskets, or worse, watch one of your men be placed in one, you would not understand. It is east to speak from what you consider to be a position of moral superiority when you’ve never once had to experience the burden of sacrifice for your country. Until you do so, I would content that your opinion is just that, an opinion, and would recommend you keep future opinions to yourself. As the saying goes, it is better to let people think you are a fool than to speak and confirm it.
Michael

LOL! What a skanky post!
scott222333

Ah shut up you turd. Show some respect to your elders. If I was there I’d punch you out.

John Spurlock

Had these crimes occured in Texas, we’d already know who did it, because their cold, dead bodies would be lying next to the flag pole!

DeputyMarshal

God Bless, and Don’t Mess with Texas!!
Shaman

You don’t see death as a little too drastic for vandalism?

Buck Bagaw

Let’s see here, if someone insults the moronic cult of islam, the moronic islamists call for their death. So yeah, flag burning is an insult to my Country and what it stands for, and to whom I and millions of others served , well then I would not have any problem with the removal of these unAmerican pieces of garbage.
Jarhead6981

shaman (no cap earned), why are you so hell-bent on codling these criminals and actually saying they should be allowed their joys in crime because of what happened in Iraq. Why does that lead to an authorization of destruction of personal and private property? Oh, now i figured it out…you’re just a moron on line who loves the fight of words because you have no fear from words. Chicken shyt punk. If this was your property, you would be talking out of the other side of your face…ugly as it most assuredly is. In Texas, as here in Michigan, there is a “Castle Law”. Someone coming on to my property is taking their own life in their own hands. No, I’m not saying I would kill them, but a little wound here and there just might stop them from taking it further next time. Come and find out what I’m talking about, please. Trust me, I have NO fear of taking action against an intruder.
Shaman

Buck: Ah I see, it’s a “Well they do it too!” scenario? So because they can get away with being inhumane, you can advocate for it as well?
Mikey

Last time I checked using fire to burn someone’s property is arson, not vandalism.

If an arsonist tried that with my home I would have no problem shooting them dead.
Shaman

Mikey: Would killing them be necessary? What if you called the cops, or only injured them instead of using deadly force? Why does death have to be the only solution? Also, if you’ve never actually killed someone, how do you know if you’ll have no problem with it?
HadEnuff

As long as it’s urinating on your grave, yes, death is a bit too drastic.

scott222333

Good.
scott222333

That’s good!

Joe Monteith

Go pound sand up your ASS RagHead. You’ll soil your shorts when we come and bomb whatever 3rd World, 6th Century, rubbish bin country you live in.

Shaman

Who are you talking to?

Chicago Nick

And I’ll END YOU if you dare try. Walk onto my property uninvited to destroy my hard earned property and precious American Flag it’s a bodybag you WILL leave in Mohammad. .

Shaman

Really? Death for burning a flag? What century do you come from?

Mikey

Arson, Shaman. Get your facts straight.

joe schmoe

whats the “real america?
Buck Ofama

“The monstrous evils of the twentieth century have shown us that the greediest money grubbers are gentle doves compared with money-hating wolves like Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler, who in less than three decades killed or maimed nearly a hundred million men, women, and children and brought untold suffering to a large portion of mankind.”
Eric Hoffer
Bippy Bellito

Sad commentary on our state when the U.S. Flag is descrated by thugs and anti American Democrats.

Buck Bagaw

Dan, you left out the part where it’s Bush’s fault.
briga

Dan, this is truely one of the dumbest comments i’ve ever read. Let me get this straight. Your contention is these flags were burned by patriotic americans who felt they weren’t being cared for properly? You truely are a product of liberal education in our schools. I guess these “patriotic” liberals didn’t understand that they might burn the house down that the flags were attached to. I guess you were too busy learning about the great contributions of gay americans in history on the day they were supposed to be teaching common sense.
Sean

Dan-

You’ve said this a couple of times…how maybe these are just flag patriots who are burning flags that are not being properly cared for. You are joking, right? So you’re answer to someone displaying a flag improperly on their property is to torch it anonymously? Really? Instead of informing the person that their flag should no longer be displayed? Just trespass on their property, and set fire to something attached to their home. Yes, that makes a lot of sense. Clearly these are true patriots running around with their lighters for the Good of America.

While I’m sure you’ve provided a great defense for the court appointed attorneys of these vandals when they are caught, I have faith that a jury will laugh your ridiculous argument out of the courtroom.
briga

Dan, this is truely one of the dumbest comments on an article i’ve ever read. Let me get this straight. Your contention is these flags were burned by patriotic americans because they weren’t being cared for properly? You are truely a product of liberal education in our schools. I guess these “patriotic” liberals didn’t realize they might burn down the house the flag was attached to. You can’t be this dumb. I’m guessing you were learning about the important contributions of gay americans in history on the day they were supposed to be teaching common sense.

Chicago Nick

ANY 1 Trying this with MY FLAG DIES trying and that’s not a threat, that’s a promise to all the brave men and women who died for our right and freedom to fly it.

Anyone comes on MY property in Buffalo Grove IL to do this I will shoot you dead and be proud to do it..

That IS A PROMISE.

John E Crain Jr

Amen brother!

Linda

Open your eyes, read the comments. The Flag Like the Constitution is no longer relivent to many folks. AND if you are a non-caucasian, its your right, your duty, to treat the Flag in any way you wish. If you are a Caucasian, then the full rath of the Law can and will be applied to You…..

Shaman

What are you blabbin’ about?

Htos1

Feral obamanuts,what else?
PSavko

They think they are immune to consequences… Show them some consequences! If you catch ‘em, make ‘em pay dearly for criminal trespass, on the spot!
JoeAStroturf

Just because Harvard’s study shows that patriotic people that like the 4th of July grow up to be republicans doesn’t mean you democrats should burn our flag.

Please Check out song called teapartiers I can’t hear you at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJfboOindCo

Here’s a verse

When he lost his commie czar it must have knocked off his socks
theirs actually someone reporting news but its only Fox
he still has another czar Chavez loving lloyd
he’s busy trying to make free speech null and void
Charles Halliburton

BTW, EVERYBODY who lives in the western hemisphere, between the North Pole and the South Pole, is an ‘American!”

NY Keith

Actually since they are all named after an Italian, Amerigo Vespucci, then they are all Italians.
digitus

Gee, let me guess. Public school?
Gator

We are all Earthlings too!! Damn our country is in a world of trouble, lol.

Charles Halliburton

The United States of America lost it’s way the day we went to the polls and elected an avowed socialist! I too, am ashamed to be called an “American.”
Philip Scharfy

Slulking around in the night and destroying other’s property is “just being honest?!?

Ashamed of being American?
You voted for Michelle didn’t you.
ProFromDover

@ jay j wise & @ julianpenrod – Living in the USA ain’t workin’ for ya, hmmm? Well then… either get off your @sses and do something to make it better or move to some other country and see how THAT works out for ya. This country didn’t get created by sorry whiners like you who sit on your butts complaining.

ham7

count me in that group too then. so when are you or your son headed to iraq to make the rich richer.

Philip Scharfy

loser
NY Keith

You are right. We have to remove this war monger from office. Epanding the war in Afghanistan? Attacking Pakistan? Wars in 3 more countries and now considering another one? Killing is not what Obama promised. He must be removed and I don’t care who replaces him.
larry momary

no i think he`s headed to labia ha! ha! to get that evil Qauddaffy.

ham07

hear! hear!
This country has lost its way and it is no longer the Unites States striving for to achieve all men are created equal. I’m not sure how it slowly changed to be this way and I don’t see any change short of a Catastrophe because the rich and powerful aren’t going to give it up.
Linda

What ever happened to citizen watch groups or neighborhood watch groups? In order for crime to go down neighbors have to get involved not just lock their doors and pull their shades.

i wish u were smart

there should be watch groups on the police and govt corruption. dont be naive, they are the biggest gangsters out there.. do the research, dont beleive me, believe your own eyes

HUGO

Probably some angry left wing liberal.

Philip Scharfy

Spot on…although “angry socialist” would have been more accurate

yoda

so blinded by the associated press you are. believing many other sources not of your own you follow
Mikey

Angry Socialist is a repetition.

Martin

You are incorrect, Ed. There is a Roselle and a Roselle Park, NJ. They’re next to each other. For once, CBS is correct.
Ed Velez

Typo there CBS…Headline should read Roselle Park and NOT Roselle.

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Rash Of American Flag Burnings Become An Alarming Trend In Roselle Park, N.J.

Residents Disgusted, Police Concerned Stunts Could Harm Homes

July 14, 2011 8:52 PM

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