NEWPORT BEACH : Return Stolen Flag, Elks Lodge Urges

The fellas at the Newport Harbor Elks Lodge 1767 are spitting mad about the latest theft, but they don’t want revenge. They just want their flag back.

The lodge’s 20-by-30-foot American flag, one of the largest in the county and worth about $1,000, disappeared mysteriously Friday night. It was hanging on the side of the lodge’s headquarters when someone made off with it.

“There’s a lot of sentiment to it,” said lodge spokesman Charlie Clark, adding that the flag has been displayed from morning to midnight each day since the Gulf War began. “It’s of no value to anyone else.”

Elks officials and police have been unable to find any culprits responsible for the caper. They theorize that at least three people sneaked up to the side of the building sometime between 5:30 p.m. and midnight, lowered the flag, which is lit up at night, and escaped unnoticed.

“It takes at least three people to raise and lower the darn thing,” Clark said.

Lodge members now say that they are willing to let bygones be bygones and not press charges if it is returned by the pranksters or patriots who might have stolen it to put on display themselves.

At least they hope it’s a prankster or patriot.

“The worst thing is that if it’s protesters that did it and want to burn it,” Clark said, adding that lodge members have a way of positively identifying the flag. He did not elaborate.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the flag are encouraged to call either the Newport Beach Police Department or the Elks Lodge at (714) 673-6110.