A Deer Park man came across a disturbing discovery while hiking near Horseshoe Lake. Richard Haines was walking near the gravel pits when he came across the remnants of a burnt American flag that someone had thrown in the bushes.

Haines said that residents target practice at the gravel pits and burn the items they use as targets, but it was the first time he had come across a burnt flag.

“It really hits home when that kind of stuff is happening in your own backyard,” said Haines, an Air Force veteran.

While there is no law against flag burning, the proper way to dispose of a flag is by burning using strict ceremonial guidelines.