Flags flying high above the Purple Heart and Gold Star Families Memorial site at Skinner Plaza in Hagåtña honor our fallen service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice but about two weeks ago, the flag poles stood bare.

“I was driving down on a Monday morning and they were all gone. I had to call the commander and say ‘Hey they’re gone,’” said Guam Veterans Affairs Director Jose San Agustin. 

San Agustin said thieves took off with all five flags and this isn’t the first time. 

“Actually four times. The first three times, it was just the Guam flag and I replaced it about a month ago,” he added. 

The Guam flag was stolen last month, then all flags last Monday. 

They've since been replaced by his office and the ropes are now secured with hose clamps. 

“Just the location where we’re at, you have people that hang around here for some odd reason don’t have better things to do. It's either they need the flag or want the flag for some reason. But what’s so sensitive about it is that this is a monument for our military order of the purple hearts who sacrificed and gave their lives and also our gold star families,” he said. 

With Memorial Day just around the corner, he’s asking the community to help keep an eye out and to be mindful of what the flags stand for. 

“For those that don’t understand, these are folks that actually paid the ultimate sacrifice to give us the freedom that we enjoy today. So if you’re around here and see activities that are not supposed to be happening in regard to this monument, please help us out and let the people know not to mess with it, leave it alone and more so just honor it,” he added. 

An important reminder to honor and respect the flags for the fallen.