Wayne Elkins made a mistake when he and a group of fellow veterans tried to remove a peace display legally placed at Veterans Memorial Park in Waterville. Elkins was arrested last Thursday along with four others and charged with criminal trespass.

Now Elkins, who is the commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1285, faces discipline from the organization. One possible punishment, according to the Central Maine Morning Sentinel, could be the loss of his membership in the veterans’ group.

The dispute began when activists from Bridges for Peace erected a memorial for the more than 2,000 U.S. dead killed during military operations in Iraq. The group used white flags to represent each lost life.

Elkins contends that the flags are universally recognized symbols for surrender and disgrace the men and women who have given their lives. Bridges for Peace contends that white is a common color in war memorials, that their members meant no disrespect and that they only wished to honor the dead.

Elkins and his supporters defied police and tried to remove the display. He faces criminal charges for his actions. That should be punishment enough.

We don’t condone breaking the law or destroying property, but it would be a shame if Elkins’ passion for the military and fellow veterans cost him his membership in the VFW.

The disagreement over the display is a microcosm of the sincere division in this country about the war in Iraq, but it’s also a miscommunication between the two sides and a misunderstanding about the significance of the white flags.

Ideally, a dialogue between the two sides could be opened up, but it would be enough if they could simply coexist without criminal confrontations.