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Tampa Firefighters Find 6 Flags In Trash

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TAMPA (CBSMiami/AP) – Florida firefighters, at the start of their shift on Memorial Day, found six American flags on poles in a trash bin behind their station.

Most of the flags, according to the Tampa Bay Times, were full of holes and covered in paint and other debris.

Capt. Tom Meid says they decided to clean the flags with soap, water and elbow grease and display them outside the station, which is near MacDill Air Force Base.

They quickly determined that two were too damaged to be displayed. So they'll be given to the American Legion for proper disposal.

Meid says the flag poles were bent at the bottom as if they'd been ripped from the ground. He says if a business owner is missing flags, they will be returned.

He calls the incident "pretty disrespectful."

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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