Several incidents of vandalism across the city have recently targeted American flags and military memorials.

Retired Army veteran Jim Nichols was disgusted during a recent trip to Freedom Park. "This is what got my attention. The hoods up and the doors were open." He was disturbed by what he saw. "You can see the plexiglass is broken."

The vandalism of military relics with graffiti and other damage upset him. "We've got a military history in this town and I hate to see it go to pot."

The problem leave him wondering about the park's future. "It's what we fought for. It's what we stand for."

Nichols hopes Omaha remembers its veterans for years to come. The city has taken over Freedom Park and plans to keep it open and well maintained. The city is interested in working out a partnership with community groups to help provide minor maintenance.

Across town at 122nd and Oak near 120th and West Center, the neighborhood brims with patriotic fever. Yellow ribbons are everywhere, flags fly day and night, rain or shine.

“It's too bad this thing happened,” says Gwen Honeywell, whose flag was stolen. "They left the flagpole." Several neighbors also had their flags stolen. "I don't know if they burned them or what they did. I don't know if it's hatred for our country or what."

"I'm proud to be an American, it's the greatest country in the world.” Larry Wilks looked outside at his flagpole. "It was bent and the eagle was broken on the top of it and the flag was gone."

Wilks is bothered by the apparent lack of patriotism some express. "The American flag is a symbol of our country and I look at it as disrespect to a lot of things, our country and to the people whose lives have paid for that."

It's not going to stop Wilks from flying his flag. "Oh no, not going to happen.” Honeywell and her neighbors feel the same way. "We're putting our flags back up and we're proud we're Americans."