For the second time in a matter of months, flags have been stolen from a park built to honour the memory of Jacob Noble, a 15-year-old Orillia youth who died in 2015.
“It’s the type of society we live in. There’s no respect or honour for things that are sacred,” said Jacob’s father, Jeff Noble, who is heartbroken over the theft. “It’s a shame. I just don’t understand it.”
The playground at Homewood Park was built by Where Angels Play, a group that was created in the aftermath of the shooting of school children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The group, started by New Jersey firefighters, built 26 playgrounds – one for each child killed.
Since then, the initiative has grown. The Orillia playground was the first to be built in Canada by the group.
When the ribbon was cut to open the park in June of 2017, a Where Angels Play flag and a Canadian flag were raised beside a wooden sign dedicating the park to Jacob.
Jacob died just before his 16th birthday. He battled cerebral palsy and multiple health issues that meant he lived in a wheelchair and was never able to speak. But he often had a smile on his face.
“This playground was Jacob’s gift to the community,” said his proud dad. “So, to see someone cut down the flags and steal them – twice – it’s just so malicious and hurtful.”
However, a silver lining is already dawning. Several people have reached out to the family with offers to cover the cost of replacing the Where Angels Play flag, which will have to be shipped in from New Jersey.
Noble wonders if the city should investigate installing a chain rather than a rope, so that it can’t be cut again.
“I’m trying to focus on the positive,” he said. “Like one of my buddies said, let’s show our strength and solidarity and let’s not let them win. Support from Orillia has been amazing.”
