Foyle College: Historic US flag stolen from NI school
'Sentimental and historical'
Since then, it has been raised on only two special occasions each year on the school grounds.It is flown on US Independence Day (4 July) and on the anniversary of JFK's assassination (22 November).Speaking to BBC News NI, the bursar of Foyle College, Neil Stewart, said this "is not just any old, run-of-the-mill flag" but is of "huge sentimental and historical value.""It's not just one that was bought in a shop - that flag is the actual flag that was proudly displayed on the base."Mr Stewart described its removal as "senseless" and appealed for its immediate return.He said the school had recently hosted a number of special guests for a flag-raising ceremony to mark US Independence Day.
Mr Stewart said among those in attendance was Frank Ekstrom, who was stationed at the US Navy Communications Base. He was accompanied by his son-in-law, David Duffy, as well as Elaine and Sandra Malcor.Sandra's late husband served at the base and she also worked there."This flag means a lot to so many people, and it has real historical value," Mr Stewart said"Why anyone would go out of their way to remove it makes no sense to me."
Police appeal for return of flag
The police said they received a report an American flag being flown on property on Limavady Road had been stolen during the early hours of Sunday. "This is reported to have occurred at 04:00 BST, involving two individuals, both believed to be male," the police said.Police have appealed for anyone with information, or who know of the whereabouts of the flag, to contact them.
Why were the US Navy in Derry during World War Two?
The US Navy was first stationed in Derry during World War Two, a conflict in which the city played a pivotal role.Base One Europe, the US Navy's operating base in Northern Ireland, had its headquarters on the site of the current Magee campus.It was vital to the protection of convoys in the Atlantic and, at one time, 140 Allied escort ships were based on the River Foyle.The US Navy maintained a presence in the city for a further four decades until the closure of the communications station in September 1977.
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