While many flew their flags proudly Friday for Veterans Day, one Traverse City business is looking for the person who stole theirs.
Kiss Carpet Design Center put up their new flag at their Traverse City location just two weeks ago, but Friday morning it was nowhere to be found.
“Any business should be able to fly a flag especially on Veterans Day.”
But Friday morning Kiss Carpet Design Center staff went out to take a picture for the holiday and saw a bare flag pole.
Sale and Design Manager Josh Gratton says, “It’s disappointing and it’s kind of disgusting that someone took a flag, but then to take it on Veterans Day.”
They have a flag up all year around and usually have a replacement, but with it being so new they won’t have a replacement for another two weeks which meant going the entire morning without a flag.
“It means a lot to us especially today on Veterans Day, the one day we really wanted to show all the veterans how much we thank them for their service and to have it stolen on that day is thoroughly disappointing,” says Gratton.
Post Commander Ryan Lautner of the VFW Cherryland Post 2780 says, “Somebody steals an American flag on Veterans Day my heart’s already broken, this just tears it to pieces even farther, it’s kind of like spitting in my face.”
Once word got out about the missing flag the local American Military League stepped up so the business didn’t have to go the entire Veterans Day without a flag.
Interim Post Commander for the American Military League, Laurie Greenman-Wood says members heard what happened and felt compelled to do something about it. “They heard about it went to Bay Supply and Marketing and purchased another flag on behalf of the veterans of the AML and donated to them because we believe in what the flag stands for.”
Gratton says, “Being able to get one back up and get back up as fast as we did was awesome, it’s a testament to the Traverse City community sticking together for everybody.”
Kiss Carpet Design Center is offering a reward to anyone who gives information to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office that leads to the return of their flag.
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