PORT LUDLOW — The East Jefferson Rotary Club is seeking 13 missing flags taken from their Port Ludlow stands during the Veterans Day weekend — a theft that could result in the loss of a college scholarship for a graduating senior.
Each year, the club places 225 flags in Jefferson County in front of businesses, schools and cemeteries during five weekends each year — Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Soon after the flags were placed this year at selected locations around Port Ludlow on Nov. 9, 13 of those flags disappeared, said Whitney Meissner, a member of the Rotary and principal of Chimacum High School.
“They were missing before Veterans Day even happened,” Meissner said Sunday.
The theft was reported to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy handling the case was not available for comment Sunday.
Meissner did not know what locations saw flags stolen.
Meissner said Rotary Club members spent years collecting money and donated flags to create the collection they currently have.
Many businesses and individuals sponsored flags, which in some cases were dedicated to the memory of a veteran.
Meissner said she hopes the person or people who took the flags will simply return them.
Ned Luce, Rotary president, also asked that members keep an eye on stores that sell used items, as well Craigslist.com, eBay.com and other online sales websites to see if anyone is selling used flags.
If the thief is selling the flags, there may still be a chance of getting them back, Luce said.
If the flags aren’t returned, the Rotary Club will have to replace the high-quality, all-weather flags.
The cost of replacing the flags is $35 each, or $455 in total, Meissner said.
“That is $455 that is not in the scholarship fund,” she said.
Cost of replacement for the flags comes out of the same fund used for Rotary scholarships, she said.
The typical scholarship is about $500, so without the return of those flags, the Rotary Club can grant one fewer scholarship to members of the Class of 2015 than it planned, she said.
Anyone who has information about the flags’ location or the identity of the person who took them can phone the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 360-385-3831.
For more information on how to donate new flags or make cash donations for the scholarship fund, phone Luce at 360-774-0042.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
