Police are investigating the recent theft of more than 160 Confederate flags placed in the Bryan City Cemetery in Texas last month to honor Confederate soldiers buried at the site.

William Boyd, commander of the local Sons of Confederate Veterans told KBTX his group put 161 Confederate battle flags in the cemetery in early April for “Confederate History and Heritage Month” in honor of the Confederate soldiers that founded the town in 1865 and now rest there.

The flags are part of a 100 year tradition in Brazos County of honoring Confederate soldiers, though county officials only this year established the Confederate History and Heritage Month of April, KHOU reports.

But over a weekend in late April the flags disappeared, and police are now working to track down the person or people responsible for the theft.

Bryan City Cemetery caretaker Robert Holmes told KBTX that Sons of Confederate Veterans have routinely honored confederate soldiers during his 33 tenure, and there had never been any problems in the past.

“I’m sure that these individuals in their mind didn’t think they were committing a crime,” he said, “looks like they did.”

The flags cost $300, which is normally considered misdemeanor theft, but police told the news site that because the flags were swiped from grave sites, the potential criminal charge is a felony, WHSV reports.

Boyd, whose great-great grandfather served as a Confederate soldier, told KHOU in early April that Sons of Confederate Veterans bought the flags and put them out “to honor the Confederate warrior, and it had nothing to do with racism.

“ … There were Confederate warriors of almost every race. There were Indians, there were Hispanics, there were blacks, there were whites, there were Jews,” he said. “There were a whole rainbow of the southern culture that fought for a cause they believed in. And so we want to honor their service. No more, no less.”

A proclamation approved by Brazos County Commissioners dedicating April as Confederate History and Heritage Month recognized that “Texas and Brazos County are a collection of many cultures of diverse backgrounds united by a common history whose sons engaged in honorable and distinguished service for Texas and the Confederate States of America,” while also condemning slavery.

“This really to me wasn’t about a black, white issue,” Brazos County Judge Duane Peters said.

“It’s honoring our ancestors who may have fought for the Confederate side, but there were other reasons than slavery that people fought for,” he said, referring to tariffs and state’s rights.