Five arrested in dispute over protest flags at veterans’ cemetery

WATERVILLE – Police arrested five people on Veterans Day eve in a dispute over a display created by peace activists at Veterans Memorial Park cemetery. The display remained intact Friday despite threats to remove it.

Police intervened Thursday night when a small group led by a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post faced off with peace activists and tried to remove 2,000 white flags placed at the cemetery in remembrance of U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq.

Wayne Elkins, the VFW commander who led the protesters, said he had no problem with the peace group, as long as it stays out of the cemetery.

“They desecrated our veterans’ grounds. If they want to protest, let them protest. We don’t mind. But to desecrate hallowed ground is wrong,” he said.

Elkins was one of five charged with criminal trespass. All five were released on the condition that they stay away from the park until Sunday, police said.

On Friday morning, the display remained despite a threat by at least one of the protesters to return later to finish the job of yanking up the flags.

The public cemetery was not expected to be part of Waterville’s Veterans Day parade and festivities. Across the state, government offices were closed, and parades and other events were scheduled in dozens of towns.

In Waterville, the flags and signs protesting the Iraq war appeared in the cemetery on Oct. 30, but the veterans group challenged a police permit that authorized the display by Waterville Area Bridges for Peace and Justice.

It came to a head on Veterans Day eve when about 10 people gathered to deliver on their threat to remove the flags before Veterans Day. An additional eight people – members of the peace group and their sympathizers – gathered nearby.

At 6:05 p.m., under the glare of TV lights, some protesters began pulling up flags.

Police quickly moved in, grabbing by the arm those who removed flags.

“I’m saddened that it has come to this, but I have a responsibility to maintain public safety,” said Police Chief John Morris, a Vietnam veteran. “Veterans don’t behave like that. These people don’t have a right to destroy other people’s property.”

The peace activists made a conscious decision to stay out of the fracas.

“Obviously, I don’t want to fight them for the flags,” said Bill Lord, a Vietnam veteran. “Really, I think that the VFW and Bridges for Peace and Justice have a lot in common. I believe in peacefully working things out.”