A display of Canadian flags in Riverview, N.B. honouring Canadian veterans was vandalized Tuesday, after a New Brunswick flag and two Canadian flags were ripped from their poles.
“To see them destroyed this way, it really affects me deeply,” said Jordan Chiasson.
Chiasson spent two months working to have Riverview chosen as one of the host cities for 128 Flags of Remembrance — a Canada-wide display by Veteran Voices Canada.
READ MORE: 128 Canadian flags raised at same time across country for war dead
Nine cities across the country were chosen to host the 128-flag display in honour of 128,000 fallen soldiers.
“Each flag represents 1,000 Canadian soldiers who died since the Boer War up to modern times. So essentially now we are missing 2,000 Canadian soldiers,” Chiasson said.
Chiasson said he reported the theft to the RCMP, but has no idea who might have stolen the flags.
“The first flag that we unveiled is now gone,” he said.
People who visited the site Wednesday were shocked by the act of vandalism.
“When he fought for his country, he fought for freedom, he did not fight for vandalism,” said Shelley Sandford, whose late step-father is a Canadian veteran.
Chiasson says the blatant disrespect for Canadian veterans is not isolated to Riverview. Three of the nine Flags of Remembrance sites across Canada have been vandalized since the displays were erected in early October.
READ MORE: New Brunswick students pay tribute to Canada’s fallen soldiers
Veteran Ghislain Lapierre from Moncton Legion Branch 6 said the theft is disheartening for veterans, especially a mere two days before Remembrance Day.
“Anybody that can deface the Canadian flag is a lack of respect,” said Lapierre.
New flags donated
But just before noon on Wednesday, Chiasson says his faith in humanity was restored.
Chiasson said all 128 flags that represent 128,000 fallen soldiers are now flying high in time for Remembrance Day.
“I really want this to look good for our veterans because this all for them and our military personnel, so it is great to have them up and running perfect as it should,” Chiasson said.
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