Tom Corcoran (left) and his neighbor Tom Schaffer, with the returned American flag. The American Flag that was stolen from a flagpole at a North Wildwood residence on July 4th, has been returned to owner Tom Corcoran. The flag is the casket flag of Corcoran's brother Patrick who was killed during the Viet Nam War, and was flying on the flagpole of his neighbor on July 4th when it was taken. Wednesday July 13, 2016, (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Tom Corcoran, (left) and his neighbors Tom and Lorraine Schaffer, examine Corcoran's American flag that was returned to him. Schaffer said a girl walked up to his porch and said this belongs to you and left a box containing the flag. The American Flag that was stolen from a flagpole at a North Wildwood residence on July 4th, has been returned to owner Tom Corcoran. The flag is the casket flag of Corcoran's brother Patrick who was killed during the Viet Nam War, and was flying on the flagpole of his neighbor on July 4th when it was taken. Wednesday July 13, 2016, (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Tom Corcoran, (left) and his neighbors Tom and Lorraine Schaffer, examine Corcoran's American flag that was returned to him. Schaffer said a girl walked up to his porch and said this belongs to you and left a box containing the flag. The American Flag that was stolen from a flagpole at a North Wildwood residence on July 4th, has been returned to owner Tom Corcoran. The flag is the casket flag of Corcoran's brother Patrick who was killed during the Viet Nam War, and was flying on the flagpole of his neighbor on July 4th when it was taken. Wednesday July 13, 2016, (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Tom Corcoran of North Wildwood, had the American military flag that covered his brothers casket, stolen from his neighbors flagpole on East 11th Avenue on the Fourth of July. Corcoran and his wife Teresa, stand on their front porch next to their neighbors. Corcoran's brother Patrick was killed at sea while serving in the Navy in 1969. Wednesday July 06, 2016. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Tom Corcoran of North Wildwood, had the American military flag that covered his brothers casket, stolen from his neighbors flagpole on East 11th Avenue on the Fourth of July. Corcoran and his wife Teresa, stand on their front porch next to their neighbors. Corcoran's brother Patrick was killed at sea while serving in the Navy in 1969. Wednesday July 06, 2016. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Tom Corcoran of North Wildwood, had the American military flag that covered his brothers casket, stolen from his neighbors flagpole on East 11th Avenue on the Fourth of July. Corcoran and his wife Teresa, stand on their front porch next to their neighbors. Corcoran's brother Patrick was killed at sea while serving in the Navy in 1969. Wednesday July 06, 2016. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Tom Corcoran, left, of North Wildwood, and his wife, Teresa, stand on their porch near the flagpole where his brother's casket flag was stolen on July 4. The flag draped the casket of U.S. sailor Patrick Corcoran, who was lost at sea in a maritime accident off Vietnam in 1969. Wednesday July 06, 2016. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Tom Corcoran, left, of North Wildwood, and his wife, Teresa, stand on their porch near the flagpole where his brother's casket flag was stolen on July 4. The flag draped the casket of U.S. sailor Patrick Corcoran, who was lost at sea in a maritime accident off Vietnam in 1969. Wednesday July 06, 2016. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
NORTH WILDWOOD — Perhaps it was a guilty conscience. Maybe it was the community outrage surrounding its theft.
Whatever the reason, Tom Corcoran said his brother’s casket flag that was stolen from an 11th Avenue flagpole on Independence Day was returned anonymously this week.
Corcoran flew the flag from his neighbor’s flagpole on the Fourth of July to honor his brother, Patrick Corcoran, who died at sea in the Vietnam War in 1969.
NORTH WILDWOOD — Tom Corcoran hopes the person who stole the American flag flying outside hi…
He and his sister despaired at the loss of the stars and stripes, a family heirloom and the last tangible reminder of the 18-year-old U.S. Navy serviceman whose remains were never recovered after his destroyer sank into the Pacific Ocean.
Tom Corcoran was at home in Bucks County when he got a call from his neighbor, Tom Schaffer, whose flagpole he always borrowed each year to fly the flag.
Schaffer said a girl he didn’t know ran up the steps and dropped off a box on his front porch without saying a word. Schaffer tried to ask her a question, but she got into a waiting car and left.
Inside was the stolen flag. Schaffer took a close look at its brass rings, which had the familiar scratches and dimples from using his flagpole rings. He was certain it was the same one.
On Wednesday, Corcoran and Schaffer hoisted the flag up the flagpole in front of a crowd of neighbors and veterans.
American Legion member Chip Dykes, of Vista, California, is on vacation this week and stopped to pay his respects when he read about the flag.
“I’m surprised they got it back. But the social media pressure was enormous,” he said. “It really got a lot of attention.”
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said in a statement he was pleased the flag was returned.
“That anyone would steal an American flag, let alone one that meant so much to this family, was absolutely unconscionable,” Menendez said. “I am so relieved that the flag is back where it belongs and that it will continue to fly and serve as a lasting tribute to a true American hero.”
Neighbor Mike DellaVella, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said he was happy to see Corcoran’s flag flying over the neighborhood again.
“If you look around this block at all the flags hanging, it’s a very patriotic block. It upset everyone,” he said.
“We understand it wasn’t done with malice. I’m sure the people who took the flag were heartbroken when they read the story about it.”
Corcoran usually flies the flag just once a year, on Memorial Day. But since it rained over that holiday, Corcoran decided to fly it July 4. Corcoran suspects the thief was walking home from the bar district early that morning when he or she spied the flag flying on 11th Avenue.
“They had no idea of the symbolism. They figured they were taking an ordinary flag. I never thought there was any malice,” Corcoran said.
But the Independence Day theft spurred outrage in South Jersey, particularly among veterans. Local veterans offered replacement flags and took up a collection offering a reward for the flag’s return.
Corcoran thanked everyone who helped raise awareness about his brother’s flag. And he said the theft won’t discourage him from flying the flag next Memorial Day.
“I’m just happy they turned a wrong into a right. We’ve all made mistakes in our lives,” Corcoran said.
Widespread news of the flag theft also shined fresh attention on longstanding efforts by Corcoran’s family and others to get the names of Patrick Corcoran and 73 other sailors who died in the accident inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
Patrick Corcoran was serving aboard the USS Frank E. Evans destroyer when it collided with an Australian aircraft carrier on June 3, 1969, shearing off the front of the American warship. Corcoran and 73 other American sailors were killed, all but one lost at sea when the front of the destroyer sank into the Pacific.
The deaths were never formally recognized as war casualties because the accident occurred outside the recognized combat zone.
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