Just days after hundreds of wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves at a cemetery north of Kalispell, about 170 of them were stolen.
The wreaths were placed at Glacier Memorial Gardens on Saturday by members of the Flathead Composite Squadron MT053 of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol as part of a national Wreaths Across America campaign.
Senior squadron member Dale Rodwick said he believes the thefts started happening Monday.
Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry says the value of the missing wreaths is about $2,500.
Rodwick says he’s been checking Christmas tree lots, believing the wreaths were stolen to be resold.
The wreaths are 12 inches across with red bows and metal frames and were made by Worcester Wreath Co. in Maine for Wreaths Across America.