Posted on 11/06/2006 11:57:48 AM PST by Keyes2000mt
Boise, Idaho -- Police arrested 24-year old Michael Burkett of Boise early Sunday morning after officers with Capitol Mall Security reported spotting him vandalizing two flag polls on the grounds of the Idaho Statehouse.
The flags are memorials to soldiers who lost their lives in the war on terror.
"It's certainly upsetting, not just to officers but for any citizen of this county who knows somebody who lost their lives in Iraq or Afghanistan," Lt. Ron Winegar said of the ongoing investigation.
Burkett was charged with resisting arrest and Malicious Injury to Property. He and his 22-year-old brother, Tom Burkett, also charged with the vandalism, are the sons of state Sen. Michael Burkett (D) of Idaho's 19th district.
Michael Burkett told Fox 12 News he had no comment on the matter except to say his sons were involved in a run-in with police last night. He also denied the fact that run-in had anything to do with vandalizing flags.
"For someone to desecrate a flag, I mean that's not only is it dishonorable, it's downright ignorant," said Tom Titus, whose son Brandon was killed in Iraq two years ago.
The flagpole with Brandon's name on it was bent so badly that police say the flag was laying on the ground.
"It hurts knowing that a flag was taken down with my son's name on it. And I hurt for the other families whose flags were desecrated," Titus said.
The decorated Vietnam vet says he's no stranger to this kind of vandalism. In fact Titus says someone ripped up a flag from a pole in his front yard. The flag was hand delivered to him by U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo's office the same week his son died.
"They were the only (elected officials) that visited me after Brandon died," Titus said. "You can't put a price on that flag."
Since that incident, Titus has taken steps to protect his keepsakes from vandals. That includes installing motion detector lights in his front yard and treating a stone, engraved with Brandon's name, with an anti-graffiti film.
And even though his son's flag at the State House has been bent back to normal, Titus thinks the Burkett's and their father should make a personal apology to the families affected by their alleged vandalism.
"If they want to go out and have some fun, if they think it's fun, then maybe they ought to have fun when they meet somebody like me," Titus said.
Damage to each flag is estimated at approximately $200.
The other flag that was pulled out of the ground has also been replaced. It had Army Spec. Carrie French's name on it.
I hope not. I won't be able to vote against him directly, as I live in a different district.
This is not the kind of publicity that will help him much. This isn't Santa Fe.
Flag polls have real flare. Seriesly.
Sen. Michael Burkett (D) of Idaho 19th district's sons. ......The apples didn't fall far from the tree.
The flags are memorials to soldiers who lost their lives in the war on terror.
Except the tree grows fruits and nuts. :)
If they're Democrat trees :)
Democrats are SOULLESS!!!! Taking a Flag away from someone who's son just died in Iraq??? SOULLESS for sure!
John Kerry and his cronies have caused this type of activity blossom in the youth of our country.....
What a legacy!
What's there to misunderstand? I guess their upbringing...?
"These two need to see the inside of the county jail for a few months."
That would be perfect.
What I want to see is the young men in court explain their actions. I then want to see a judge ream them out, toss them in jail for a few days, and award them a criminal record that can not be erased. A record they deserve.
"Flag polls?"
"The flags are memorials to soldiers who lost their lives in the war on terror."
"Boise, Idaho -- Police arrested 24-year old Michael Burkett of Boise early Sunday morning after officers with Capitol Mall Security reported spotting him vandalizing two flag POLLS on the grounds of the Idaho Statehouse."
I'm pretty sure loungitude knows what flags, flagpoles, and memorials are; the author's spelling is the amusing bit. I'm series!! :o)
I'm pretty sure this was a calculated tactic to liven up the democrat base in an effort to "get out the vote".
Just who are these people who think they are so terribly important that no one has any rights by them? Did someone cut off their thorazine or what.
POLL:
The evil politician making these poor, misunderestimated democrat youths stoop to this veteran-offending act was:
a. Karl Rove
b. John Kerry
c. John Kerry with Karl Rove's hand in his back
d. Howard Dean
I never even noticed the spelling. Thanks for pointing that out!
RELATED LINK:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1733430/posts
I didn't notice right away either. Misspellings go over my head all the time! I guess I'm to busy reeding. ;o)
That would be great & what should happen. But our judges will give them community service that they most likely will never do. If they do face jail time daddy will make sure they get the best lawyer who will get these creeps out of trouble with little more then a slap on the wrist. Mommy will explain to the judge how her sons are misunderstood and how their father gave all his time to politics and the poor boys suffered....all a bunch of BS. I think if you do anything to the flag or the flagpole it should be a crime. I hate seeing the creeps of the WBC dragging the flag around and draping it over themselves. Makes me really furious that disgracing our flag is not a crime.
What is the local media angle ?
Glad to hear this area is not liberal enough to give this behavior a pass.
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