Like the spirit of a military platoon after a long-fought battle, Leslie Mason’s flag remained standing.
"You don’t mess with people and you don’t mess with people’s property," said Mason, a seven-year resident of McLean’s Timberly community following the vandalism that left nearly 20 neighborhood mailboxes destroyed at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16.
Although Mason’s mailbox was leveled, by what appeared to be a baseball bat wielded by local youths, according to Mason’s across the street neighbor Ron Cuneo, her American flag remained erect, yet somewhat tilted in the ground next to the shattered box.
"It’s ironic that amidst all that destruction the flag would remain standing," said Mason.
"I heard a noise — like something splattering," said Cuneo. "I was doing my taxes, went to the window and saw a late-model SUV, black, shiny — it was dark out — the car must have been well washed. A young man was getting into the SUV and was wearing a white pullover shirt and no jacket," he said.
"I was going to follow, but they had too much of a lead. I saw my neighbor’s mailbox shattered all over the street. I called 9-1-1 and gave a description of the vehicle and that there were four or five kids in the car," said Cuneo.
"I called Leslie after calling the police. She thought the house was being broken into and was scared to death," said Cuneo.
Police said the youths were apprehended shortly after Cuneo called them, he said. "There were seven police cars on Oslo where one of the kids lives," he said, adding that from 50 yards away in his car he could see the white-shirted youth he identified. "They were standing there with crossed arms looking guilty. Eventually, they offered a limited confession," said Cuneo.
Cuneo said he was told by Fairfax County police officer R. Genus with the McLean station, that restitution and an apology would be forthcoming and to expect a telephone call on Sunday, the next day.
HAVING LOOKED AROUND her block on Old Gate Court, 13-year McLean resident Amber Gordon, not an immediate victim, expressed shock. "Oh, my God — what happened to our neighborhood, was my first reaction," said Gordon.
"On Sunday, I heard nothing. Monday, the holiday, nothing. This was unacceptable," said Cuneo, who called Genus to leave him a message. "I said the deal is off. He called me an hour later. The officer said the damage was more extensive — 17 boxes."
"This is an example of kids with too much time on their hands. This is beyond a mean streak here. This passes the point of juvenile delinquency," said Cuneo.
"This behavior must be controlled," said Gordon. "The point isn’t a smashed mailbox — but the vandalism and the violence. It’s horrible. It’s a violation. Cost isn’t the issue to their families — there needs to be restitution other than in the form of remuneration — community service — for the children and the parents. The parents are somehow allowing this to happen," said Gordon.
"I would like to have the parents out there digging in the dirt," said Cuneo, describing how the mailbox in concrete needed to be replaced.
Mason said that Cuneo assisted her husband Jeff Cosby in replacing their mailbox before Tuesday, Feb. 19. "I knew I had until Tuesday — Monday was Presidents’ Day. I wanted to be nice to my postal worker — he’s the nicest guy," said Mason, who agreed with Amber regarding the community service punishment.
"I’m unwilling to have their parent cut me a check for a mailbox. Anybody can do that," said Mason of the $40 item. "That doesn’t serve the children or the parents —– where will they go next?" she wondered. "To me restitution should be building a house," she said, recommending the Rebuilding Together project, formerly known as Christmas in April, held the last Saturday in April. "They should be constructive, not destructive. It’s imperative for me to go to court and say what I think the restitution should be."
A COURT DATE has not yet been established, said Mason, having spoken to Genus last Thursday.
"I would like to have them lose their driver's licenses for six to eight months," said Cuneo. "They’ll never forget that — it has an immediate impact. A fine is meaningless — these are $3 million homes — the money won’t be missed."
The incident of Feb. 16 was not the first the Timberly community has incurred. Cuneo said that six to eight weeks ago, his and six or seven additional homes were vandalized. A car drove on the lawn, exiting the property through several bushes and knocking down the mailbox. Cuneo didn’t complain about the loss in terms of dollars, but in the time-consuming project of replacing the destroyed landscaping. "It was a pain ... makes you feel violated."
That incident was also reported to police, said Cuneo, who reminded him that it is important to report all incidents so there would be a record.