William Steinbach, 2, rides on the back of an Oregon National Guard truck Thursday in the Veterans Day parade in Albany. His father Jeff Steinbach has been serving with the 7th Cavalry for almost a year. AP Photo

ASHLAND - Vandals tried to put a damper on Ashland's Veterans Day celebration by putting gravel and wet cement into 65 flag holders along the town's main street.

But Kiwanis Club members discovered the vandalism early enough that they were still able to put up more than 200 flags through the rest of the town to commemorate Veterans Day.

Word spread quickly about the vandalism, and about 20 community members and city workers came to help clean up the mess.

Carrying screwdrivers and hammers, they were able to get out the still wet cement and gravel from the flag holders, with Kiwanis members following closely behind putting in the flags.

"I was near tears because of the anger I felt," said Kiwanis Club Treasurer Mike Bakke. "It's just not right."

This was not the first time vandals have struck the flag holders, Bakke said. On July 4, Kiwanis Club volunteers discovered gravel had been put into flag holders in the middle of the boulevard, which they were able to take out.