ARLINGTON, Va. — Veterans at  Arlington County’s American Legion Post 139 will gather Thursday at noon to dedicate a new American-flag mural painted on their building, and they’ll hoist a new flag to replace the one that vanished from its pole this week.

“Maybe the rope broke, the flag was laying there and maybe someone just picked it up and took the flag,” says Bob Romano, commander of Post 139.

Sen. Tim Kaine is providing the veterans with a flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol; it will be raised at Thursday’s ceremony celebrating the mural.

Strangely, the flag disappeared as artist Scott LoBaido was in the midst of decorating the brick building.

“It’s beautiful. It’s just a beautiful mural (covering) the whole front of our building,” Romano says.

The artwork at the American Legion Post, on Washington Boulevard, completes artist Scott LoBaido’s mission of painting a flag mural on a building in each of the 50 states.

“It’s a waving flag, 75 feet long and 22 feet high; it’s priceless. When I saw the final picture of the mural I just said wow,” Romano says.