After Protesters Burned American Flags, These National Guardsmen Just Couldn't Stand by. What They Did Speaks Volumes.

Protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, and around the country have taken to the streets nearly every night following the grand jury's decision not to indict police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Some protesters have been peaceful and even patriotic. Others have been anything but that.

Images of protesters burning American flags in the streets and on sidewalks have conjured up passionate responses from those on every side of the debate — especially those who have put their lives on the line protect and defend the nation.

Image source: YouTube

In a video uploaded to YouTube Sunday, a man recording questioned a Ferguson police officer about another matter, but before the officer walked away, he made one thing very clear: "Just so you know, the Guardsmen have come over to look for pieces of the American flag that got burned."

"Why is that?" the man asked.

"Because it's an American flag," the officer said.

[sharequote align="center"]"Because it's an American flag." [/sharequote]

Moments later, National Guard troops maneuvered their way through the crowd of cheering and laughing protesters. The man, seeming dumbfounded by what the Guardsmen were doing, said as they passed him, "It's a piece of cloth."

"But it means something to us," one of the troops replied.

The man said again,  "I appreciate you guys' service but it's a piece of cloth."

Once the Guardsmen passed, the man asserted, "it's not their flag." Around the same time, National Guard troops appear to be picking up pieces of a torched flag before making their way back across the street to Ferguson City Hall.

Note: some strong language.

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