WHEN GOVERNMENT SMELLS WORSE THAN THE WASTE WATER: FLAG VANDALS INSULT OUR COMMUNITY

Perpetrators of the wanton vandalism and thievery that have repeatedly gone on in Cape Rock Park deserve to be caught and punished for their repugnant acts.

As a community service, Louis K. Juden Post 63 of the American Legion took over care of the park in January under the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department's Adopt-A-Park program. Members do much of the mowing, keep the park clean, and have planted flowers and shrubs.

They also have tried to fly the American flag, a POW-MIA flag and an Iwo Jima memorial flag, only to have them vandalized or stolen. On five occasions in as many weeks these lawbreakers have struck, including on Flag Day in broad daylight.

It seems that regardless of how difficult the Legion members try to make it for the culprits to carry out their crimes, they manage to impose their destruction and thievery. They've had to go to great lengths to get the flag poles out of anchored holes, using a sledge hammer or crowbar on one occasion.

What is with these people? Could it be they don't want a decent presence in the park, which long has been isolated, so that they can continue to carry out other unsavory acts? We suspect that may be the case.

A word of warning: With the recent publicity concerning your acts, you can be sure you are being watched. And one day you'll be caught.