By BROOKE GOLDMAN

LAPLACE – The River Parishes community has been displaying American flags to show its support and recognition of the Sept. 11 tragedy.

One LaPlace resident, Tina Waguespack, was given a three by five heavy cotton Dettra flag by a close family friend. Excited about showing her family’s American pride, Tina and her husband, Doyle, wanted to hang the flag in their front yard.

Doyle Waguespack bought a bracket and a pole to hang the flag from a tree. They also put out five other flags that are spread across the yard.

At 5 p.m. Sept. 14, Doyle Waguespack hung the flag and the family went out around 7:15 p.m. When they came home at 9:30 p.m., the flag was no longer there. Tina Waguespack went to a few of the neighbor’s homes to see if they picked it up because it may have fallen.

The neighbors said they had not gone into the Waguespack’s yard nor did they hear or see anything.

Tina Waguespack suspected it was stolen and called the police. When the police arrived, they informed Tina and Doyle Waguespack that this was the second reported stolen flag within the hour.

“How patriotic is it to sell or display a stolen flag?” said Tina Waguespack. “I have a feeling it was a kid and they probably stole it because you can’t find them anywhere in the stores.”

The next night, Tina and Doyle Waguespack took their son, 4-year-old Rhatt, to the Sacred Heart Fair in Norco. While looking for a place to park, the family passed many homes displaying flags.

Rhatt Waguespack said, “No one stole any of their flags.”

Tina Waguespack said he was very upset when they found out the flag was probably stolen.

Their family friend gave them a new one and Doyle Waguespack put the brackets high enough that you can only reach it with a ladder.

Tina Waguespack said, “I am still worried someone will steal it. I will probably only put it out when I am home.”

Tina Waguespack was disturbed when she got to work and found out what was happening Sept. 11 in New York City and the Washington, D.C.

“It’s a tragedy in this day and age for people to do this,” she said.

She explained to her son that there are bad people in the world who do bad things. However, the worst can sometimes bring out the best in people. Tina Waguespack realized this when she saw on the news the American Red Cross raised more than $2 million.