Rotarian John Ericson with American flags placed by the East Jefferson Rotary Club at The Inn at Port Ludlow Resort for Veterans Day. The theft of 13 of the flags placed by the club could have an impact on the number of scholarships the group can award. East Jefferson Rotary Club

Rotarian John Ericson with American flags placed by the East Jefferson Rotary Club at The Inn at Port Ludlow Resort for Veterans Day. The theft of 13 of the flags placed by the club could have an impact on the number of scholarships the group can award. East Jefferson Rotary Club

Anonymous Peninsula Daily News reader gives $455 in cash to replace stolen flags for East Jefferson Rotary Club

CHIMACUM — An anonymous Peninsula Daily News reader has contributed $455 in cash to cover the cost of replacing 13 American flags stolen from the Inn at Port Ludlow just before Veterans Day.

At around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, an unidentified person dropped off a plain white envelope at the Chimacum Elementary School office with the words “Miss Whitney” handwritten on the front, referring to Chimacum High School Principal Whitney Meissner.

Meissner was quoted stating the $455 amount needed to replace the flags in a story on the theft in Monday’s Peninsula Daily News.

The envelope was forwarded to Meissner, who found the cash and a copy of the PDN story inside, but no other identifying information for the donor.

Meissner, who had alerted the public to the theft with a Saturday morning Facebook post, used the social network for a response to the gift.

“No name, no request for recognition, just someone who wanted to do the right thing,” she wrote.

“Thank you — this of all weeks, I think we should be thankful for what we have and for all that is right in the world.”

When she opened the envelope, Meissner first felt gratitude for the gesture followed by surprise that someone would leave an envelope full of cash on a desk.

“I’ve never heard of that happening before,” she said.

The flags are the property of the East Jefferson Rotary Club, and the cost of their replacement endangered the group’s ability to award one of its student scholarships as the money would have come out of the same fund used for scholarships.

Each year, the club places 225 flags in Jefferson County in front of businesses, schools and cemeteries during five weekends each year — Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Soon after the newly purchased flags were placed Nov. 9 at selected locations around Port Ludlow, 13 of them disappeared.

Even before Monday’s donation arrived, the club had received several promises of contributions that were cause for optimism, according to its president, Ned Luce.

“The [PDN] story generated a lot of interest,” Luce said.

“We’ve had several calls from people who want to contribute, to pay for the cost of the flags and the scholarship.”

After learning about the theft by reading the story at the PDN’s website, Seattle TV station KING-5 visited Port Ludlow on Monday and broadcast a report that evening.

Luce said that he’d received a call from someone who “thought he knew” who had taken the flags and was going to work toward their return.

Luce said that he had not informed the Sheriff’s Office of that particular lead.

“There is a feeling that if law enforcement gets involved, then it will go away,” Luce said of the lead.

“So I decided to give this guy a day to get back to me.”

Anyone who has information about the flags’ location or the identity of the person who took them can phone the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 360-385-3831.

For more information on how to donate new flags or make cash donations for the scholarship fund, phone Luce at 360-774-0042.

________

Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.

Reporter Arwyn Rice contributed to this story.

More in News

Foundation donates $1 million to hospital

Recipients include residency program, scholarships and cancer care center

A former teacher, Larry Jeffryes moved to Sequim with his wife in 2013. He was appointed to the Sequim School Board in September 2019, elected by voters in November of that year and was elected again in 2023. Before his resignation, Jeffryes’ term was set to go through November 2027. (Larry Jeffryes)
Sequim school board director resigns after six years in seat

District opens process to apply for position

Members of the musical group Soupbones, from left, Ed Schmid of Port Angeles, Ron Munro of Sequim, Carly List of Port Angeles and Hugh Starks of Sequim, perform at a Good Trouble community gathering and picnic on Thursday at Erickson Playfield in Port Angeles. Organizers of the event, one of numerous gatherings across the United States, decided to forego conventional politics while commemorating the life of civil rights activist John Lewis. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Good trouble rally

Members of the musical group Soupbones, from left, Ed Schmid of Port… Continue reading

State funds to benefit coastal habitat

Clallam, Jefferson awarded $1.6M

Artists Heather Sparks, left, and Zeo Boekbinder set up a stencil of a fern leaf in an effort to decorate an otherwise-drab concrete roadside divider along Race Street south of Lauridsen Boulevard on Wednesday in Port Angeles. The divider work was part of a larger project to beautify the Race Street corridor from Eighth Street to Hurricane Ridge Road, which included improved traffic lanes, pedestrian and bicycle lanes and decorative lighting. Long-term plans call for similar improvements to Race Street, extending to First and Front streets. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
A touch of color

Artists Heather Sparks, left, and Zeo Boekbinder set up a stencil of… Continue reading

A tanker truck overturned into Indian Creek west of Port Angeles, according to the State Patrol and the state Department of Transportation. U.S. Highway 101 was closed Friday afternoon at milepost 238 near Herrick Road, and traffic was being diverted to state Highway 112. (Katherine Weatherwax via X)
Highway 101 reopens after tanker truck overturns into creek

Port Angeles asks utility customers to conserve water

Lisa Hansen of Port Angeles, center, takes a cellphone photo of her son, Cooper Hansen, 3, as Hansen’s mother, Tracy Hansen, right, looks on during a warm day at Hollywood Beach on the Port Angeles waterfront on Wednesday. The trio were enjoying a sunny summer afternoon next to the water. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Picture perfect

Lisa Hansen of Port Angeles, center, takes a cellphone photo of her… Continue reading

Claim against First Fed alleges $100M fraud

First Fed plans to ‘vigorously defend’ loans

Olympic Medical Center CEO says Medicaid cuts will hit hard

Darryl Wolfe tells board entire state will feel impact

Joseph Wilson, left, and Kevin Streett.
Jefferson PUD names new general manager

Wilson comes with 30 years of experience

Firefighters from Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue oversee a brush fire Wednesday in the area of Baker Farm Road. (Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue)
Woman airlifted to hospital following bicycle crash

U.S. Highway 101 was closed for about 45 minutes… Continue reading