AN INSIDE JOB The Curious Case of the Disappearing Flags
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 cannot comprehend the mindset that would allow someone to do this,” Wallace said.
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.
Apparently, the wooden flagpoles attract groundhogs, something other groundskeepers have experienced as well.
“I’m glad we do not 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.
Determined to find out who was to blame, police put up surveillance cameras and recorded the goings-on in the cemetery. As they watched
Turns out Punxsutawney Phil has some very naughty cousins — ones who aren’t subject to the law.
A DIFFERENT (BUT IMPORTANT) TYPE OF SPRING-CLEANING!
Do You Have Your Documents Organized Properly?
Wills and Trusts By placing large portions of your assets in living trusts, you avoid probate, manage distributions to beneficiaries the way you want, and give them asset protection. In will based planning, you will name your executor and beneficiaries. Government Entitlement Programs Research government benefits, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which can provide welcome additional income or services as you grow older. Medicare and Medicaid Many individuals confuse Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65 or older or have a severe disability; you are entitled to Medicare no matter what your income. Medicaid, on the other hand, is a state and federal program that provides health coverage only if you have a very low income and few assets. Medicaid also pays for long-term care, and we can help if you need qualified for that. As you can see, there are many legal measures to be considered as you age. If you need assistance with any or all of them, the elder law attorneys at Hegwood Law Group are here to help! You can connect with us by going to HegwoodLaw.com or calling us at 281-645-0363.
March kicks off annual spring-cleaning. Whether you enjoy this type of cleaning or despise it, at least you can see it as an opportunity to get your life more organized. But before you start weeding all your garden beds or taking apart your garage, I urge you to consider your assets and estate. Do you have them organized properly? If not, this spring might be the perfect time to start the process of getting everything in order. Growing older is not something you have to initiate; it just happens. Planning for and coping with your later years is another matter, necessitating your active participation. As you prepare yourself for the process of “spring-cleaning” your documents, here are some ideas to keep in mind. Guardianships Guardianships are of the person and person and estate. They are necessary when someone does not have a valid statutory power of attorney and a medical power of attorney that can handle all of their needs.
2 HEGWOOD LAW GROUP
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