CAMDEN —  Sometime between Friday afternoon, July 11, and Sunday evening, July 13, more than 216 American flags and markers placed on U.S. veteran graves were removed and stolen at the Mount View Cemetery, on Mountain Street in Camden. 

And, the large American flag on the pole at the cemetery had also been removed.

Some 58 flags and 13 markers were positioned into piles at various points in the cemetery, the rest are completely gone. But the red flags marking graves of local firefighters remained intact on their assigned graves.

Jeff Sukeforth is Adjutant for Camden's War Memorial Post 30 and he is also a member of the Camden Cemetery Association. So is Chip Laite, who called Sukeforth Sunday afternoon after discovering the thefts.

Sukeforth immediate visited the cemetery, taking stock of which the sections on the cemetery grounds had been affected.

"Unfortunately, a drive-through of the cemetery found that every flag and holder in Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 are completely missing, " he said.

Additionally, the flags and markers in Sections 2 and 4 were partially removed.

"A quick calculation finds this is a big loss for Legion Post 30 as marker and flag costs approximately $15 and the estimated replacement cost is $3,240," said Sukeforth.

"Side note to the those who did this, if you have the flags and holders, just drop them off at the Legion post and if you think you can handle it, the Legion would be more than happy to sit with you and explain why those flags and markers are so important," he said.

Just before Memorial Day every May, volunteers with the Legion Post 30 methodically move through the graveyards in the local area, placing flags and markers on the designated graves. The markers distinguish, by design and inscription, in which war or conflict a veteran served.

At Mt. View Cemetery alone, the Legion placed 567 flags on veterans' graves there in late May. They normally remain there until after Veterans Day in November, when they are removed and disposed of properly, said Sukeforth.

Those markers are also historical; the Mt View graveyard itself predates the American Revolution and is filled with local legacy. There is an historic survey of the war veterans graves, and the list of wars associated with that ranges from the American Revolution to the Aroostook War, the War of 1812 and the Indian Wars. 

The tradition is long in history, and rooted in a deep regard for those who sacrificed their time, and sometimes their lives, for their country. The community honors its veterans on Memorial Day, and the placement of flags and markers on their graves is a solemn affair unto itself.

Sukeforth is mystified why the flags and and markers were removed and stolen. And he hopes what went missing will be returned.

If anyone has any information on the thefts, call the Camden Police Dept.,  236-7953 or Sukeforth, 691-2270.

Estimated replacement cost is $3,240.00.  Estimate of $15 per marker and flag set.  Jeff