American Flags Torn Down From Cape Cod Overpass

YARMOUTH, MA — American flags hung on a Cape Cod overpass to honor a local Purple Heart recipient have been torn down for the second time in two months, police said.

Yarmouth police shared that American flags placed in honor of Purple Heart recipient Lance Corporal William Joseph Donovan Jr. have been torn down from the West Yarmouth Road memorial bridge that is named in his honor.

Early Monday morning, police were called to the bridge after reports that several flags had once again been destroyed. The flags were placed on Friday by Donovan’s father, replacing the flags that were vandalized in July, police said.

An officer arriving at the scene found eight American flags "forcefully ripped from the fencing. Their grommets had been torn out, and at least three flags were ripped apart at the seams," officials said.

Yarmouth Police are actively investigating and ask anyone with information to contact the Yarmouth Police Department.