MESA, Ariz. - A disabled veteran was roughly kicked out of a Social Security office in Mesa after informing a security guard that the American flag flying outside the office was tattered.
"Every square, centimeter on that flag is a soul of each individual whose given their lives. That's how I look at it," said Richard Moriarty of Mesa.
When Richard Moriarty looks at the American flag, he sees much more than red, white and blue.
"It's the best looking flag in the world. It's the most enchanting flag," he said.
The 63-year-old is a disabled veteran who served in the Air Force during Operation Desert Storm.
"The flag means to me more than it does to a lot of people," said Moriarty.
So when he saw a tattered flag hanging outside the Mesa Social Security office near Baseline and Country Club Drive, he was devastated.
"Each stripe was torn. It was in tatters," he described.
Moriarty felt like he had to say something.
"That would have gone against everything that is ingrained into me," he said.
Moriarty said he walked into the office and approached a security guard.
"I said, 'Do you know you need to take that flag down? It's desecrated,'" he said.
Moriarty offered to take it down for them and asked the security guard if he was a veteran. That's when the situation escalated and within seconds, the guard pushed Moriarty out of the office.
"I can't breathe!" yelled Moriarty in a video captured by a witness, Shivani Dallas.
Mesa Police arrived on scene. According to their report, the security guard claimed Moriarty initiated the conflict by pushing him in the chest. The 63-year-old is now charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing.
"I haven't slept since then," Moriarty said.
Moriarty is distraught over the incident but doesn't regret standing up for what he believes in.
"The flag means so much to so many people and we as Americans take it for granted," Moriarty said.
12 News has reached out to Social Security for comment. So far they have not responded to our request.