‘ Thin red line’ flag stolen off Middletown fire engine
MIDDLETOWN — Firefighters say the public has responded after their union posted on Facebook about the theft of a flag from one of their fire engines.
According to a post from Middletown Professional Firefighters Local 1073, a “thin red line” flag was cut off Engine 2. Firefighters said they believe it happened while they were at an oven fire at a Wesleyan University building on High Street around 2:20 p.m. Friday.
“We’re not sure why, but you must have really admired the sweet thin red line flag on Engine 2, because you climbed up on the tailboard and cut it off and stole it,” the Facebook post said.
The “thin red line” flag, the union wrote, honors fallen firefighters, stating that whoever took the flag may have felt like they were making some sort of stand.
“The thin red line flag isn’t a political statement,” the union said. “We get that some people have an issue with the American flag and the thin blue and even the thin red line these days. But honestly, even if that was your motivator, taking something that doesn’t belong to you is stealing — and stealing is wrong. Maybe your folks didn’t teach you that. Just a head’s up, trespassing and damaging city property are also kind of frowned upon by ‘the establishment’ and all.”
Firefighters issued a challenge to whoever took the flag.
“If you truly feel that you’re fighting the good fight, the next time you want to deface and steal our property, stand by your convictions,” firefighters wrote. “Be a grown up and wait til we’re outside and do it for the whole world to see. Otherwise, you’re not brave, you’re not a freedom fighter, and you’re not a hero. You’re a coward.”
The union has already replaced the flag, but wrote that the perpetrator could reimburse them by Venmo.
The post reporting the theft drew a response from people across the country asking if they could help replace the flag.
“We never imagined so many people would be touched by this event and want to help,” the union wrote in an update on Facebook.
Saying the flag had been replaced, Middletown Professional Firefighters Local 1073 suggested making donations to the IAFF Fallen Firefighters Memorial or the Connecticut Fallen Firefighters Memorial .
“Or, since we can all agree that 2020 has impacted so many people, any local charity that you feel would honor the memory and sacrifice of those members who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” the firefighters wrote. “Because ultimately as firefighters and first responders as a whole, we get into this line of work to serve and help.”