Disturbing act of vandalism at veterans memorial in Holden

Holden, Mass. — Holden Police are searching for a man who ripped down an American flag at a veterans’ memorial and urinated on it Monday.

“We’re completely disgusted by it. This is a very patriotic town,” said Holden Town Manager Peter Lukes. “It’s a disgraceful act, and you really have to just be the lowest form of life to do something like this to a memorial.”

After vandalizing the flag at the memorial on Highland Street sometime between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., the man then ran over a nearby resident’s front lawn, ripped down a flagpole that was mounted to the home and tossed the American flag on the ground. That resident, an Army veteran who asked not to be identified, said she believes the act was a “spur-of-the-moment” crime of opportunity, but she is upset by it.

“It’s definitely disheartening to see that there are still people out there that will disgrace the flag,” she told Boston 25 News Tuesday.

The suspect is believed to be in his 30s or 40s with a bald or shaved head, Lukes said. Police are working to find an image of the suspect’s vehicle on traffic cameras as they also ask residents for any home surveillance video they may have.

“We have a number of veterans on our police force,” Lukes said, “And they’re not going to rest until they get some conclusion to the matter.”

Holden Police ask anyone with information to call them at 508-210-5613.

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