LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH) – A Fairfield County man wants answers after the American flags on graves of veterans at Maple Grove Cemetery on US 22 near Lancaster are mowed down.

Jeff Henderly collected the tattered remains of at least 30 flags when he visited the grave of his father Saturday.

Every two weeks, Henderly spends a little time with his father, the army staff sergeant who passed away two years ago and served several tours in Vietnam.

“It had a cross on it that came on when he sun went down, and it was broken,” he said.

But when he came Saturday…visiting the graves of his uncle and grandfather, also veterans…

“I was leaving and noticed more flags missing at the other end of the cemetery and I pulled my truck over and I walked back this way and I probably picked up thirty flags, a whole arm full of pieces.”

Disgusted, Henderly gathered up the ripped and shredded remains…enough to fill two shopping bags.

“This wasn’t storm damage. It was carelessness, and disrespect for our veterans and the deceased.”

The city of Lancaster is responsible for the maintenance of this cemetery. Mayor David Smith told NBC4 they contacted the contractor responsible for mowing Maple Grove Cemetery and they promised some changes.

Smith says what happened to the graves was regrettable. And the contractor, Yard Rescue, who has worked for the city of Lancaster for 7 years without complaint, promises to address the issue with his employees.

Today, the flags are back up, and Henderly is grateful to those responsible. He said he hopes this is the last last time he sees the graves of veterans treated this way.

“What they do for this flag and to see it shredded across the cemetery the way it was, was just sickening.”