American Flags Burned In Alexandria: 'It's Got To Stop'

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Residents in a West End Alexandria neighborhood are discovering their American flags being burned, NBC Washington's Chris Gordon reports.

The TV station reports that World War II veteran Dick Cohen's flag was burned, and more residents reported their flags were burned days later.

Alexandria resident Lisa, who withheld her last name, told NBC Washington two of her flags were torched within two weeks. Another resident, Ian Pfaff, caught surveillance footage of the unknown suspect that burned his flag. Pfaff says the suspect appears to be male, heavy set and of average height.

The burnings begun just before Independence Day. Cohen told NBC Washington, "It's still a demonstration against our national symbol...and our country. It's got to stop." (Sign up for real time alerts and a newsletter. iPhone users can download the Patch app in the App Store. Plus, like Old Town Alexandria Patch on Facebook.)

Fire officials and police are investigating the flag burnings as arson.