Pastor: Thief returns stolen American flags dedicated to veterans to Grand Bay church

GRAND BAY, Ala. (WPMI) — A thief swiped several American flags in Grand Bay, stealing part of a Fourth of July tribute to military heroes.

Pastor Royce Dubose says the fact that the thief returned them is proof that God works in mysterious ways.

A parade of more than 100 American flags surrounds First Baptist Church in Grand Bay.

A red, white or blue ribbon on each flag features the name of a military veteran.

"It's honoring my country," said church member Melba Schafer.

Members like Schafer noticed four of the flags were missing Sunday morning.

Pastor Dubose said someone stole them over the weekend.

"And we were making plans to replace them," Dubose said.

Plans quickly changed after Schafer's husband found the flags propped on a tree beside the church.

"My husband and another one of the church members put the flags back up where they belong," she said.

Attached to the flags was a handwritten apology letter. In part it says, "I am sorry for taking the flags. I did not mean any disrespect. I was drinking. I had a dumb idea. I had no idea that they were names of fallen heroes. Sincerely, I'm sorry."

"The note was very sincere. You can tell whoever took them was very, very upset with themselves," Dubose said.

Dubose says the church has no idea who this person could be.

"To be honest, we don't want to know. And not because we are angry at them, but because we don't want to embarrass them to feel anymore remorse than they are already feeling," he said.

On top of that, First Baptist is even extending an invitation welcoming the culprit to stop by for Sunday services.