MURFREESBORO — Those that pass by the United States Post Office here may notice the absence of an American flag.

While the lack of the nation’s colors being displayed from the front a federal government-owned building might stir emotions for many people, there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

According to Postmaster Angela Gaines, the post office is in the process of ordering wire and specialized parts for the flag pole—the results of dealing with someone vandalizing past flag lines.

Gaines said the office has had a problem in the past with keeping their flag flying because someone continues to cut them down.

“We would put the flag up and 24 hours later it would be laying on the ground; some one would cut it down,” she said. “At that point we decided to get the wire (lines).”

Gaines said the flag was first cut down in October or November and the malicious act has happened four times since then. She said each time the flag would be left on the ground.

But “Old Glory” will once again fly over the Murfreesboro Post Office.

Gaines said new parts are scheduled to be installed sometime next week with a little help from the Murfreesboro Fire Department.

“We don’t have a cherry picker and they said they would help us out,” she said.