LAWRENCE, Kan. — One Lawrence household is attempting to determine who vandalized the delight shows on their property.
The Harford’s know all about happiness, pleasure, and delight; it’s why they embellished their entrance yard.
“That’s why you see so many colours, our home is so shiny, as a result of it’s a good way to have pleasure,” Daniel Harford mentioned.
5 of the six Hartford’s determine as LGBTQIA+. The household makes use of their entrance yard as a symbolization of acceptance of not solely themselves, however any particular person’s background or id.
However this July, the Harford’s delight was picked over, twice.
“We simply knew that our mailbox was now not there,” Daniel mentioned. “We discovered the again of our mailbox at the back of the yard.”
On the morning of July 4, the household discovered their mailbox destroyed and their delight flag bent. They filed a police report with the Lawrence Police Division, and had loving neighbors step in. They mentioned one neighbor helped them set up a brand new mailbox, and the household ordered a brand new flag.
“I really feel like they have been attempting to destroy our pleasure,” considered one of Daniel and Emily Harford’s 4 youngsters, Violet, mentioned.
However once they’d thought this was behind them, then got here July 30.
“As I used to be backing up I appeared over and realized I had no mailbox once more,” Daniel mentioned. “And this time that they had destroyed my mailbox, set my mail on hearth, had stolen our flagpole and our flag, and so they additionally had crumpled up the mailbox.”
In order that they filed one other police report, and whereas police have nonetheless not recognized a suspect, Daniel mentioned the responding officer supplied to extend patrols within the household’s neighborhood. And neighbors, as soon as once more, stepped in to assist. The Hartford’s have obtained 12 delight flags within the mail since, and one neighbor even gave them a safety digital camera to put in.
Emily Hartford mentioned even by means of the unhappiness, there’s a stronger love and appreciation for group and the way the household chooses to share their message with it.
“Hanging a flag in your yard isn’t an enormous factor, however it will probably have a big effect,” Emily mentioned.
Emily is an energetic advocate and voice for the LGBTQIA+ group, too.
“We’re not gonna cease placing up a delight flag, it issues,” Emily mentioned.
The Harford’s are nonetheless afraid after what occurred. A couple of of the kids shared they discover themselves anxiously working to the window to verify their mailbox remains to be there.
However, nonetheless, not even a bent flagpole or a burnt mailbox can break this household’s pleasure.
“We don’t need to be intimidated by that, and we help and affirm these on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum,” Daniel mentioned.
You’ll be able to assist the household restore the vandalism and buy further safety.
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