National Guardsman Finds American Flag in the Rubble of Wash. Mudslide

By Jaime Lutz April 2, 2014

When Sgt. Michael Cohan found an American flag lying in debris from the Snohomish County, Wash., mudslide, "he felt obliged to display it proudly," the Washington National Guard tweeted.

After all, it was the rare poignant find in the search-and-rescue mission following the March 22 mudslide, which currently has a death toll of 27 with 22 victims still missing.

Because the flag is tattered and muddy, it isn't fit to be flown, according to the flag portion of the U.S. Code. Instead, guardsman are flying a clean flag at half mast in the wreckage.