Flag burning incident investigated by Broken Arrow Police

Broken Arrow Police search for the person or persons who set one flag on fire and stole another one. <br><br>A woman found the charred remains in front of her home Wednesday. News on 6 reporter Patrina

Wednesday, April 28th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Broken Arrow Police search for the person or persons who set one flag on fire and stole another one.

A woman found the charred remains in front of her home Wednesday. News on 6 reporter Patrina Adger has the story.

For the past two years, Yvonne Rogalla has flown an American flag and an Israeli flag in front of her home. She's not Jewish, but says she's a Christian. After visiting Israel five times in as many years, she believes the two faiths should be unified. "We've gone there to support the Jewish people 'cause that's what we're supposed to do as Christians."

She says the two flags were flying separately until a month ago when she decided to put up a flag pole so they could fly together. "The word of God says those that bless Israel will be blessed. So, since then I've had the Jewish and the American flag together."

But she discovered Wednesday morning that someone doesn't share her beliefs. She walked out to her yard to find the Israeli flag in charred, melted pieces, hanging on a shrub. The fire marshal says it was doused with some type of motor oil and set on fire.

Not only did the arsonists burn her Israeli flag, they stole the American flag that was hanging on the flag pole. But just hours after Yvonne discovered what had happened; she put two more flags up in its place. â€œI'm not afraid of whoever did it. I prayed for them. I claimed their souls for the Lord and I put my flag up and it's gonna stay up there."

Yvonne says she lives in a quiet neighborhood and can't imagine who would do such a thing. She hopes it never happens again, but if it does, she says she has several more in reserve.

Broken Arrow Police are not investigating this case as a hate crime. They say whoever's responsible could face a number of charges, including third-degree arson which is a felony.

If you have any information about this crime, you can call Broken Arrow's Crime Line at 259-1111.