The American flag was gathered up in an ashtray.

The flag honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action was laid beside it, a gray stain on the grass.

All around the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9220 on Lavender Road in Bensalem were signs of vandalism and visibly distressed men and women who once served in combat. Members of the post said they believe someone torched the American flag, the state flag, POW/MIA flag and a VFW flag during the previous night.

The vandals also torched a trashcan placed against the wall of the building, though there appeared to be no damage to the building.

The words “Remember Satan” were spray painted on the wall. The tags “S.A.,” “Sora,” “MC” and “MRK MC” were painted on an oil tank, air conditioners, a shed and fencing.

The graffiti began showing up on handicapped parking signs about two weeks ago, said post Commander Joe Amodei. “I just can't believe it came to this,” he said Monday, holding his head in his hands.

Amodei and his wife, Nancy, arrived at the post Monday afternoon and discovered the mess.

“I cried when I saw it all,” she said, as she cleaned burned matches from a blue mailbox where people are encouraged to place old flags for proper disposal.

“This is total disrespect for anyone who ever served in the armed forces,” said Vietnam veteran Ed Willis of Philadelphia, as he stood outside the hall, shaking his head. “The sad thing is that we fought and died so these people could be here ... and they chose to burn our flags.”

Sunday's vandalism comes just three days before Flag Day Wednesday and a scheduled vote in the U.S. Senate that could lead to a constitutional amendment banning destruction of the American flag, even as a form of protest.

Approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2005, the proposed amendment would give state and federal lawmakers “the power to prohibit the desecration of the American flag.” The proposed amendment would then head back to the states, where three-fourths of the nation's state legislatures would have to accept it within seven years.

Regardless of what happens nationwide, Bensalem police said they are investigating the incident as an act of simple vandalism. Anyone with information is asked to call 215-633-3700.