Phoenix Police are still trying to track down whoever set a Valley veteran's flag on fire — and it was still hanging from his house at the time.
"I looked up and realized the flag was gone and the pole and then I knew what happened," said Staff Sgt. Brian Ellison, who spent nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Sgt. Ellison said he doesn't know who did this to his American flag and the even bigger question is: Why?
"I can't imagine why someone would want to do it just because of the way I think about the flag," Ellison said.
Ellison fought for that flag, which makes seeing his burned flag that much harder to stomach.
"That flag is what you raise your right hand to when you say your oath and take your oath when you join the service.," Ellison said. "It's also draped across caskets when you lay veterans and service members to rest."
ABC15 spoke with Phoenix Police Friday night. They told us they're still looking for the suspect or suspects. In the meantime, if someone tries to mess with Old Glory again, the Ellisons' have installed a new camera outside their home that will catch the crook in the act.
"That's all I want, just to leave the flag out of it," Ellison said.
Sunday starting at 11 a.m., the Ellisons are encouraging their neighbors to hang and display their own American flags. It's their way of trying to unite the community and also show off their patriotism.
