Los Alamitos : ‘Irreplaceable’ Scout Troop Flag Stolen From Car

Members of Boy Scout Troop 671, based in Los Alamitos, are upset about the recent theft of a car. But what concerns them more than the loss of the vehicle, which was later found stripped in Wilmington, is the loss of an American flag and their troop flag that had been temporarily stored in the car’s back seat.

“The flags have a lot of sentimental value for all the boys who have been in the troop,” Scoutmaster Nick Testa said. Of particular value, he said, is the red-and-white troop flag, which contains a collection of special ribbons signifying various awards the troop has won in its 22-year history. “It is irreplaceable,” Testa said of the flag, which is used in parades and special ceremonies. “Once it’s gone, that’s it.”

The Scouts’ woes began on Jan. 4 when the car, which belongs to the parents of one of the troop’s 43 members, was stolen from the driveway of their Garden Grove home. The flags had been stored in the car for an upcoming event. Two days later the car was found in Wilmington, minus the flags.

“They could have taken them out and just thrown them anywhere, perhaps in Long Beach,” Testa said.

Anyone with information on the flags’ whereabouts, he said, is asked to call him at (714) 894-4941.