An air force veteran is furious after vandals wrecked his flagpole carrying the Maple Leaf flag and Royal Canadian Air Force ensign on the night of Aug. 11.
Winston Weir, who lives on Kaulback Street in Truro, found his flagpole knocked over on his front lawn the next morning. The pole, made from new exhaust pipes, was bent over 90 degrees and nearly snapped off its base.
“It makes me wonder on the mentality of some people’s thoughts towards patriotism, it’s disgusting to do something like that to the Canadian flag,” said Weir. “I could turn them over my knee – that’s what I’d like to do - because they’re obviously of a childish and brain-dead mentality.”
He said that buying a new pole from Andy’s Tire in town would cost him $160. This price tag is considerably less than what he first paid to have the pole installed, when he forked out more than $800.
This the second time that vandals have targeted Weir’s property. He lost another flag 15 years ago when vandals ruined the flagpole and tore up the flag, leaving footprints in the snow after they fled.
“[It was] probably some young fellows trying to show off their strength,” said Weir of the vandal attacks. “It can be insulting to anyone who has patriotism as far as I’m concerned.”
Weir served in the regular air force from 1961 to 1971, where he worked as an air traffic controller. He was posted in Canada throughout his military service, working in St. John’s, Greenwood NS, Val-d’Or in Quebec and finally Goose Bay. After leaving the regular force, Weir was in the support reserve between 1973 and 2005.
Anyone with information about this act of vandalism or any other crimes can call the Truro Police Service at 902-895-5351.
