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CEDAR CITY — The mother of a Cedar City man who died while fighting a wildfire in Arizona six years ago is holding out hope for the return of a recently stolen flag honoring his memory.
Gayemarie Ekker said she put out her flagpole for the Fourth of July holiday, as she customarily does. The pole was adorned with the U.S. flag, along with a smaller, red and yellow flag commemorating the 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, who were killed while fighting a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, on June 28, 2013. Ekker’s son Joe Thurston [was one of the 19](<https://www.ksl.com/article/26100753/cedar-city-honors-native-son-killed-in-ariz-fire >) firefighters who died in the blaze.
Ekker said she received the custom flag on the first anniversary of the tragedy, giving it special sentimental value. She is hoping that whoever took it will return it, no questions asked.
“We have an American flag we will be happy to give you,” she added in a Facebook post addressed to the thief.
