(The following information was provided by Lansdale Mayor Garry Herbert.)
It is with real frustration and disgust that I must report that someone — or multiple people, unknown at this time — visited Lansdale Cemetery between May 31 and July 11 and stole 56 metal military veteran grave markers from our community. It is unknown if the theft took place over multiple nights or on a single evening. The total valuation of the loss was around $400 in markers, however the act itself is more disrespectful than the price of the markers.
Obviously, the marker helps us remember and identify those who have served our community and our country. But they do so much more than that. They help preserve our history by being a trackable object on sites such as www.findagrave.com and other sites dedicated to recapturing lost history. Often, veteran grave markers indicate what war or conflict the veteran served in and other key information about the veteran. This information can, in-turn, reveal more details about the individual, the community they came from, or critically tie back to other important historical facts for both the family of that veteran and the community at large.
The individual(s) who committed this crime, unlike the veterans in the graves they stole from, put themselves and their needs over the needs of our community. They are likely going to try and make money off the markers by taking them to a metal salvage or scrapyard in the hopes of making a quick buck. These actions are desperate and despicable. Those who served with distinction and honor in our community deserve to rest in peace and be honored for their commitment to our nation. It is unconscionable to think that someone of any kind of integrity would even consider taking grave markers of any kind, but especially the grave markers of our veterans.
The markers will be replaced and put back as soon as new ones can be ordered, and we will make sure that our veterans are honored properly and continue to have a place of honor for their eternal rest. However, I am asking that if anyone happened to see people in the cemetery — likely at night — between May 31 and July 11, please come forward and share your information with the police department. Additionally, if you own — or know someone who owns — a scrapyard in the area, please share this information with them. They may have important information about the person who is trying to scrap the grave markers.
It saddens me that I must share this information with our community, and it is frustrating that someone could be so incredibly disrespectful to any grave site, but especially to those who have served our country with valor. To the families of the graves that have been violated, the Lansdale Police Department will make every effort to find the person who committed this crime and have them stand before a judge to try and defend their unreasonable and disgusting actions. It is my hope that we can quickly replace the grave markers so that our history, our veterans, and their actions can continue to be honored throughout the year whenever someone visits our local cemetery.
(Mayoral Musings is a weekly op-ed column submitted to North Penn Now, courtesy of Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert.)
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