Editor:
On New Year's Eve, my wife and I were enjoying a quiet evening at home. We were unaware of the group of young people passing the front of our home in West Sechelt. According to a neighbour, these individuals decided to destroy the 18-foot flagpole in our front yard flying our Canadian flag.
We, as a habit, display our flag at half mast when news comes in of Canadian troops having fallen in Afghanistan. The day before New Year's Eve, a reporter and four Canadian troops were killed by a roadside explosive device in Afghanistan. Therefore, at the time of the vandalism, the flag in our front yard was at half mast.
I understand the desire to celebrate and have fun, especially with the new year coming in, but must these celebrations always result in vandalism? The disrespect that the individuals responsible for the destruction of our flag pole have shown towards not only the honouring of fallen soldiers and civilians but to the Canadian flag itself is unconscionable.
As was witnessed by a neighbour, the young people were out to do damage. Many appeared to be intoxicated as well as underage. My questions are these: where are the parents of these young people? Do they not care what their young people are up to? What kind of an example are the parents setting for these young people?
They obviously have no pride in what the members of our military are trying to accomplish. What is even more sadly evident is that they also show no pride in their country, nor for the flag that represents it.
Klaus Kahle
West Sechelt
