New Hampshire Residents Stunned Over 9/11 Flag Theft

HUDSON, N.H. — Disbelief and disgust.

Those were the main emotions boiling the blood of Hudson residents who awoke Tuesday to learn that a temporary American flag had been stolen from its post on the 9/11 Memorial construction site at Benson Park.

“I guess you just shake your head and say, ‘Why?’ ” said Michelle Rudolph, lieutenant EMS supervisor and member of the 10-person 9/11 Memorial Committee.

Construction began on the memorial about four weeks ago and will conclude Sept. 11 in time for the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The flag was donated by Joan Brunelle, a member of the Hudson Senior Aerobics group, which exercises in the park, and was installed July 20.

The theft was reported to police Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

“I was in awe that somebody would remove an American flag, period,” said Bill Avery, a Hudson police captain. “Even more so that it was at a 9/11 memorial. We don’t deal with that type of thing too often.”

As word spread of the theft, David Morin, a fire captain and president of the 9/11 Memorial Committee, began receiving calls — at least 50 of them — from concerned residents, many pledging economic support. One anonymous resident delivered a replacement flag to the Fire Department early yesterday morning, and by 10:30 a.m., it was erected.

The site is marked off with string and several signs that read: “9/11 Memorial Site,” so some say it’s hard to imagine that the thief was unaware of the flag’s significance.

“It’s a random act that affected many people and (the perpetrator) probably don’t even know,” Morin said. “Everybody knows about the project. I think it’s a total disrespect to the families of the victims. Why put more trauma into this?”

Avery said detectives from his department have been assigned to the case, and that police presence around Benson Park will increase to protect the new flag. He said the perpetrator may have even been “a young person who didn’t realize the importance.” Once the permanent flag is raised, a lock will be placed inside, so that it cannot be stolen again, Avery said.

The site, located in a clearing near the entrance to the 2-year-old park, will feature a 23-foot high, 9-ton steel beam from the elevator shaft on the 23rd floor of the North Tower, the first to be hit. The American Airlines flight that crashed into the tower was piloted by John Ogonowski of Dracut, and counted David Kovalcin, a Hudson resident, among its ill-fated passengers.

The memorial will also pay tribute to the Pentagon attacks, with a five-sided wall surrounding the memorial. Of the project’s $145,000 cost, $130,000 has been raised so far. The majority of the work will be done by firefighters and volunteers. It will be the largest 9/11 memorial in New England, said Roger Coutu, Hudson selectman and member of the memorial committee.

“I think it’s beautiful,” said Carole Whiting, a Hudson police officer who served in the Army 28 years and is a member of the 9/11 committee. “It’s the day America changed forever. Regardless of whether you’re a first responder or the gal next door, it changes the way we live.”

Rudolph said the memorial’s construction was significant “for everybody, for Elizabeth (Kovalcin, David’s wife), for her family, for Ogonowski’s family, for everybody in uniform, but most importantly, the citizens. Everyone remembers where they were, what they were doing (that day). It’s an emotional tie that everyone has.”

“No matter if you’re in California or New York City, we’re all brothers and sisters, and it affects us all the same,” Morin said.

Park visitors were equally dismayed by the theft.

“It was uncalled for,” said Debbie Dionne, who lives up the street. “It’s not one of those big ones that flew over the White House or anything.”

Denise Davis, a Hudson resident who walks her two small dogs in the park, is worried that the park’s hours will be reduced due to the theft.

“The park is such a wonderful place to come,” Davis said. “The people that vandalize ruin it for the rest of us.”