Someone appeared to set fire to an American flag ahead of Memorial Day weekend outside the home of a veteran who served in Afghanistan, video shows.

Adam Douglas, who last served in Afghanistan as a captain in 2019, returned to his home in Tempe, Ariz., to celebrate Memorial Day weekend but noticed the American flag outside his home was gone.

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Upon checking his doorbell camera, video taken days earlier on May 26 shows a man touching the flag before picking up what appears to be a lighter. Douglas told Fox 10 Phoenix he heard several clicks from the lighter trying to ignite as the man attempted to light the flag on fire. 

"Memorial Day weekend -- we've had people die while I was over there as well," Douglas told the station, describing his military deployment. "It means a lot, I want to make sure that flag is out on Memorial Day weekend. To have it stolen is... I just couldn't understand it."

(Adam Douglas/Fox 10)  (Adam Douglas/Fox 10 Phoenix)

Though police canvassed the area, the flag was never found. Douglas soon replaced it.

"This one's a little bigger than the last one too," Douglas said.

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The Tempe Police Department is investigating the incident. Douglas said he owns several flags that he had with him while deployed in Afghanistan – ones he said he's now relieved to have not been flying outside his home last week.