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Canadians charged in U.S. flag desecration

California men accused of replacing American flag with Canadian one after Crosby’s Olympic goal

Two Canadian ex-pats living in California have been charged with vandalizing an American flag shortly after Sidney Crosby scored the gold-medal winning goal in the Olympic men’s hockey final. Ryan Smith and Matt Siefert are accused of replacing an American flag flying atop a mountain with a Canadian one. The stars-and-stripes had been planted atop Point Happy mountain by Mayte Sterling shortly after 9/11to honour the attack’s victims as well as soldiers fighting overseas. According to Sterling’s son, the flag that was taken down was found torn and buried under nearby rocks. Smith and Siefert are facing misdemeanor charges of vandalism and flag desecration and could be punished by up to a year in jail.

Palm Springs Desert Sun

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