Local Veteran Thanks Community For Support
OAKMONT (KDKA) -- Grasping his medals from his military service, a very thankful and emotional Tony Pallatto stood in front of his Oakmont home weeping.
"It touches me," he said. "For all the buddies I lost in Vietnam, all veterans, my total respect for all of them."
It was a few minutes after midnight on New Year's Day when vandals grabbed Pallatto's 20-foot flag pole in his front yard and ripped in down with the American and the M.I.A./P.O.W. flag still on it.
Once the story broadcast regarding the incident, calls starting coming in from folks wanting to help out and replace the pole.
One in particular stands out.
"Frank, he told me his uncle, his dad and his grandfather were all veterans and he wanted to donate some money to help replace the flag," Tony said. "He says this is just his part of giving back and that's - that's the ultimate."
Tony has talked to police and his insurance company and will use any donations to put in a vandal proof pole.
"Pole's going to be stronger than ever now," he said. "[No one's going to be able to] pull this one down. That's for sure."
Total cost to replace the pole will vary anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
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