Community Corner

Murrieta Police Fly Veterans' Flags

A flag in memory of Army Air Corps. Pvt. Angelo A. Maccarrone was scheduled to be flown Tuesday, Jan. 28 as part of the Police Department's new "Honor a Veteran–Fly Their Flag" program.

An American flag that draped the casket of an Army private killed in World War II will fly at the Murrieta Police Department, 2 Town Square.

The flag in memory of Army Air Corps. Pvt. Angelo A. Maccarrone was scheduled to be flown Tuesday, Jan. 28 as part of the Police Department’s new “Honor a Veteran–Fly Their Flag” program.

Look closely Tuesday to see that the flag has 48 white stars because it dates back to the time period before Alaska and Hawaii joined the United States, bringing the number of stars on the flag to 50.

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Paul Maccarrone, 79, is among five surviving of 12 siblings of the fallen private.

According to Murrieta police Sgt. Jay Froboese, Paul requested that his brother’s flag be flown when he learned of an in-house city program that had been in place for about a year.

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“January 28, 2014 will see the first flag flown from outside the City family,” Froboese said. “...Only City employee family members have had flags flown. The Police Department would like to now open the program up to all citizens of Murrieta.”

Designed to “show respect and gratitude for any veteran that has passed away,” Froboese said it will “give their family a chance to see their veteran's flag flown at the Murrieta Police Department.”

About Pvt. Angelo A. Maccarrone:

He was born Jan. 5, 1926 and was killed in action during World War II on January 28, 1945.  Nineteen-year-old, Army Air Corp Pvt. Maccarrone was a nose gunner on a B-24 Liberator, Tail #42-50868. The aircraft had no nickname. His aircraft was on a bombing mission near Garbeck Germany at 12:30 pm on January 28, 1945. Pvt. Maccarrone's aircraft was in formation with many other B-24's. A B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Lil Eva" flying in formation with Pvt. Maccarrone's aircraft was shot down.  Lil Eva went out of control and collided with Pvt. Maccarrone's aircraft.  Both B-24's had ten crewmembers onboard and four parachutes were seen between the two aircraft. None of the crew in Pvt. Maccarrone's aircraft survived the impact and ensuing fire. Pvt. Maccarrone and his crew were buried in the village cemetery at Garbeck Germany on February 2, 1945.  

In 1948, Pvt. Maccarrone's family traveled to Garbeck Germany and recovered the remains of Angelo and returned him the United States.  Pvt. Angelo Maccarrone is currently buried in St. Michael's Cemetery, Forest Hills, MA, in Section 91, Grave 110-111 alongside his mother and father.

In addition to Paul—the youngest of Pvt. Maccarrone’s 12 siblings—there are two older surviving brothers and two older surviving sisters living in Massachusetts.

“The members of the Murrieta Police Department are deeply honored to have Private Angelo A. Maccarrone's flag flying over the Murrieta Police Station today Jan. 28, 2014.”

Those who would like more information about  the "Honor a Veteran—Fly Their Flag" program may contact Froboese at 951-461-6302 or jfroboese@murrieta.org.


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