Veteran finds U.S. flag burned in his driveway

An American flag burns outside the American Embassy in London during a protest Sept. 11, 2010.

Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

An American flag burns outside the American Embassy in London during a protest Sept. 11, 2010.

A U.S. Marine veteran is speaking out after finding the American flag that his family flew outside their Arizona home burned in their driveway last week.

Brian Ellison, of Ahwatukee, told KTVK in Phoenix that he was pulling out of his driveway on the morning of March 29 when he realized that the driveway was covered with charred scraps of red, white and blue fabric.

"When I looked down, it was the American flag that we fly on the front of our house," Ellison told the news station. "It had been burned."

A few charred remains of the flag remained on the pole jutting out from the façade next to the Ellisons’ garage. Brian Ellison and his wife, Lisa, said they have no idea who would have vandalized their property.

"This was not right," Lisa Ellison told KTVK. "It's personal."

Local police are investigating the vandalism, the news station reported. In the meantime, the Ellisons have hung up a spare flag.

Lisa Ellison encouraged her neighbors and other residents to also fly the flag.

"I want everyone in Ahwatukee to get their own flag, and all of us stand proud and say, 'This is not going to happen anymore,'" she said.

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