Readers of Raising Kaine or Daily Kos will be aware of the continuing saga of The Mt. Vernon Sign.

Earlier this fall, Wendell Allen, an 88-year-old retired federal employee, posted a Webb sign on a tree near his home. The sign, which faced Mt. Vernon Highway less than a mile from Sen. Allen’s home, didn’t last long. It disappeared in the middle of the night.

In October, Mr. Allen obtained a 4′ by 4′ sign. Volunteers helped him glue it onto plywood so it would be harder to remove. That sign lasted a week.

But Mr. Allen is not one to be deterred. He has continued to place signs on his property in an exercise of his First Amendment rights.

Every time a sign goes up, however, it is quickly removed. In the dead of night. After the fourth sign was stolen, Mr. Allen posted a second sign with this editorial comment: “Pro-Senator Allen THUGS have STOLEN a WEBB sign from this location 3 TIMES!” He added Christmas lights to that message, which I thought was an especially festive touch.

But that sign is now gone as well. So members of the Mt. Vernon Democratic Committee are taking action. We are all taking turns on “sign watch.”

Tomorrow night, I’ll be the one guarding Mr. Allen’s sign. I’ll have a camera and a flashlight. If anyone tries to remove the sign, he or she should know that I will gladly go to court. Removing signs is a violation of the law.

This has been a nasty campaign. But somehow, continuing to steal signs from an 88-year-old retiree seems to be especially mean spirited.
If you’re interested in joining the Sign Brigade, email webbsign@cox.net.