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THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING FLAGS An Inside Job
Theft is a serious matter, made even more grave when the victims are fallen war heroes. Such was the situation that stumped police in Hudson, New York, in 2012. The crime was first committed in July of the previous year. Flags had been placed around the graves of soldiers in Cedar Park Cemetery — only to go missing right around Independence Day. Veterans groups and locals were outraged and mystified by the crime. Some worried that a hate group was to blame, as the missing flags had adorned the graves of Jewish soldiers. Veterans worked to replace the flags, one by one, and right the wrong. No culprit was found, and the community moved on — until the following July, when the mystery repeated itself. Like the year before, flags were placed on veterans’ graves in honor of Independence Day, and again, they went missing sometime in the night, this time taken from the graves of African American Civil War soldiers. Cemetery caretaker and veteran Vincent Wallace was appalled, as was the rest of his community. “I just can’t comprehend the mindset that would allow someone to do this,” Wallace said. Determined to find out who was to blame, police put up surveillance cameras and recorded the goings-on in the cemetery. As they watched the tapes, sure enough, they saw one of the culprits sitting atop a gravestone with an empty flagpole in front of him. It was a groundhog.
Ash Birds Day Fat
Lamb Leprechaun Lion
Rainbow Shamrock Spring Tuesday Wednesday
March Mardi Parade Patricks
Flowers Forward Gras
Asparagus & Avocado Soup
Apparently, the wooden flagpoles attract groundhogs, something other groundskeepers have experienced as well.
This hearty soup is the perfect meal for those late winter days when you think spring will never come. It can be made vegetarian by substituting vegetable broth for the chicken stock.
“I’m glad we don’t have someone who has taken it upon themselves to desecrate the stones and the flags in front of them,” said Hudson mayor Bill Hallenbeck. “We can all rest a little easier knowing that it was a critter and not a human defacing our flags, especially those of the veterans,” added Hudson’s police commissioner.
INGREDIENTS
Turns out Punxsutawney Phil has some very naughty cousins — ones who aren’t subject to the law.
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12 ounces asparagus
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1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and cubed
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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Juice of 1/2 lemon
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2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
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1 tablespoon ghee or coconut oil
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2 cups chicken stock
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Salt and pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss asparagus and garlic with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 10 minutes. 3. Transfer asparagus to blender. Add remaining ingredients and puree until smooth. 4. Season to taste and serve.
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