This is disgusting

The following story can only make you angry. God Bless Katy Hines and her children.

Hat tip- The Anchoress

Flags Memorializing Fallen Soldier BurnedLocal Church Donates New Flags
POSTED: 9:17 am EDT July 24, 2005
UPDATED: 1:34 pm EDT July 24, 2005

FAIRFIELD, Ohio -- Less than 24 hours after an Ohio soldier was buried, someone pulled up 20 American flags from his father-in-law's front yard and set fire to them under a car in the driveway, according to WLWT-TV in Cincinnati.

The family of Pfc. Timothy Hines and neighbors can't understand why someone would do that.

"If it wasn't random vandalism, what statement were they trying to make?" said Jim Wessels, Hines' father-in-law.The car, belonging to Wessel's daughter, was burned beyond repair.

Members of a local church stepped in and helped clean up, and 200 flags donated by family, friends and neighbors were put up around the lawn."I was in the military also," Don Hodges told WLWT-TV.

"I understand some of what he had to go through before he was killed. And I appreciate all that the veterans done for the country."Police are keeping a close eye on the neighborhood and vowed to find the vandals."

What has happened to this family is a tragedy; what occurred this morning is despicable," said Fairfield police Chief Mike Dickey. "We will take every step to identify the persons responsible and hold them accountable."

Hines, 21, of Fairfield, died last week of injuries from a bomb explosion in Baghdad in June.

More than 400 family members and friends gathered for his funeral Friday. They watched a slideshow of his life from childhood to high school to his wedding.

Hines met his wife, Katy, at Cincinnati Christian School. They had a 2-year-old daughter, Lily, and Katy expects to give birth to their second child in about two weeks.

An anonymous donor gave Cincinnati Christian $130,000 to cover tuition for Hines' children.

"Tim was a fighter. He fought hard for his country, family and ultimately, his life. He was a loyal husband and father and an incredible American," a tearful Katy Hines said at the funeral. "There is a price for freedom and Tim paid the ultimate price. Now he is in the loving arms of God."

Hines was the gunner on a Humvee in a convoy when a bomb detonated on a highway onFather's Day. He suffered kidney and tissue damage and internal bleeding, and his right leg was amputated in a Baghdad hospital. He was having emergency surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., when he died.

Army Brig. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly presented Hines' mother a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. Family members also received a visit from President Bush at the medical center earlier this month.

Hines was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery with full military honors.