LONGMONT, Colo. -- A Longmont couple awoke to find the charred remains of a burned American flag on the sidewalk in front of their home Tuesday morning.

"I was just apalled," said Brenda Bourgeois who lives in the home with her husband.

"I felt like someone spit on my daddy's grave, because he fought for my freedom," Bourgeois said.

The couple lives in the 1200 block of Carolina Avenue, and has no idea who may have left the burning flag.

Larry Bourgeois spent 4 years in the United States Marine Corps and has several patriotic items displayed around his home and car.

"We never display anything that's confrontational or that's in your face, we're proud to be Americans and I was proud to be in the Marine Corps," Larry Bourgeois said.

The couple says they've felt some hostility toward the military in the past, and believe the burned flag is meant to send a message.

"Regardless if you agree with the war or not, someone is laying down their life for me, and you," Brenda Bourgeois said.

For now, Longmont police say there isn't evidence to show this was a bias motivated crime, or hate crime.

A police spokesperson also told 7NEWS since the flag didn't belong to the couple, or endanger their property, there's not a lot police can do except file a report.

The act of burning an American flag is not illegal, and is considered a protected form of free speech.

Larry Bourgeois says he's concerned what could happen next time.

"Anytime somebody comes in the middle of the darkness of night to start a fire in your front yard, maybe next time it's your house," Bourgeois said.