US Flag Stolen From Army Vet's Home

EASTVALE (CBSLA.com) — A United States flag was stolen from outside of an army veteran's Eastvale home.

Bob Sanchez, 67, told KCAL9's Tom Wait that he has had an American flag outside his homes since the 1960s.

The tradition, however, came to a screeching halt when he noticed the flag was missing, along with its pole.

"I walked around the side of my house to see if my gate was closed, to make sure the dog wouldn't get out, and I noticed my flag was gone. And I thought, 'Something is wrong here.' My flag was gone," said Sanchez.

The vet immediately put up a new flag and pole.

His state representative is even getting him a flag that was flown over the state Capitol.

Sanchez said it's all about his fellow veterans and his family's legacy of service.

"See, that's my brother's picture, I honor him, my father, my uncles and even my wife's side, also, there are a lot of veterans," he said.

Sanchez said his flag is much more than fabric flapping in the wind—it's a symbol of something much greater.

"Freedom is not free. It never will be. You have to fight for your freedom, and that's what that flag represents," he said.

He hopes the culprit ultimately understands what he or she did.

"It bothers my mind for somebody to take something like that…that is so rich with history and blood…to go and take it. I hope he puts it up in a nice way," said Sanchez.