Veterans memorials vandalized in California, Kentucky, Virginia

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

http://www.staradvertiser.com/breaking-news/veterans-memorials-vandalized-in-california-kentucky-virginia/

LOS ANGELES >> Memorials to veterans in a Los Angeles neighborhood and a town in Kentucky, as well as a Civil War veterans cemetery in Virginia, were vandalized as the nation prepares to mark Memorial Day, officials said.

A Vietnam War memorial in the Venice area of Los Angeles has been extensively defaced by graffiti. The vandalism occurred sometime during the past week, KCAL/KCBS-TV reported. The homespun memorial painted on a block-long wall on Pacific Avenue lists the names of American service members missing in action or otherwise unaccounted for in Southeast Asia.

News of the vandalism came as another veterans-related memorial was reported damaged in Henderson, Kentucky. Police say a Memorial Day cross display there that honors the names of 5,000 veterans of conflicts dating back to the Revolutionary War has been vandalized by a driver who plowed through the crosses early Saturday.

In Virginia, the Petersburg National Battlefield has apparently has been looted, the National Park Service said. Numerous excavations were found at the Civil War battlefield last week, Jeffrey Olson, and agency spokesman, said in a news release Friday. Petersburg National Battlefield is a 2,700-acre park marks where more than 1,000 Union and Confederate soldiers died fighting during the Siege of Petersburg 151 years ago.

In Los Angeles’ Venice neighborhood, the wall for missing veterans has been tagged previously, but the latest vandalism covers the bottom half of the memorial for much of its length.

To George Francisco, vice president of the Venice Chamber of Commerce, it’s not just graffiti. “It’s a desecration. I mean it’s very simple. There’s no sort of other way around it, said Francisco, who also runs a nonprofit called Veterans Foundation Inc.

“I’ve known the sacrifices these people made in an incredibly unpopular war. So to continue the mistreatment of Vietnam veterans is somewhat shocking, somewhat shocking and quite sad,” Francisco said.

Painted by a Vietnam veteran and dedicated in 1992, it declares, “You are not forgotten” and states the number of missing as 2,273.

According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the number of unaccounted-for Americans was listed at 2,646 in 1973. About half were those missing in action, and the others were those killed in action but the body was not recovered. Since then, the remains of more than 1,000 American have been identified and returned and about 1,600 have still not been accounted for, although efforts continue.

In Henderson, Kentucky, Jennifer Richmond, a spokesman for the Henderson Police Department, said the community is devastated and working frantically to repair and replace the crosses that were put on display for a Memorial Day ceremony in Central Park.

She said a 27-year-old local man drove straight through the cross display in the Henderson park, about 130 miles west of Louisville, just before 6 a.m. Saturday, but investigators don’t know if it was deliberate.

Anthony Burrus has been charged with criminal mischief in the first degree and leaving the scene of an accident. Online jail records do not list an attorney for Burrus.

[biff]

A little varmit hunting with some rock salt would cure this.

[TomSea]

HENDERSON, K.Y. (WATE) – Henderson Police Department made an arrest in a vandalism case after they found the suspect’s car with a cross and stake to hold the cross embedded in his tires.

Anthony Lavelle Burrus, 27, charged with criminal mischief and leaving the scene of an accident. Burrus was arrested after police said a vehicle drove through the Memorial Day cross display at at 5:55 a.m. Saturday in Central Park in Henderson, Kentucky.

Officers said the motorists damaged 160 crosses. The Henderson Fire Department, as well as volunteers, helped to clean-up the display. Burrus’ 1979 Ford Thunderbird was found abandoned at a McDonald’s parking lot after police found surveillance video of the suspect’s car.

http://wjhl.com/2016/05/29/kentucky-man-caught-with-cross-embedded-in-tires-after-memorial-day-display-vandalism/ (picture of the suspect, no, let's not post it here)

The act has to be intentional to do that much damage you'd think; but some questions remain, was he really out to make a vicious statement? Dope or alcohol user? 5:55 AM Sat. Morning?  Probably under the influence and would let his Ford Thunderbird go through that?  Looks like it could be criminal mischief or driving under the influence.

A '79 Ford Thunderbird:

...found the suspect’s car with a cross and stake to hold the cross embedded in his tires.

Looks like I'm not the only one who uses bad sentences to try to describe something.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

And why do it on memorial day?

[Right_in_Virginia]

And why do it on memorial day?

For maximum impact.

[TomSea]

Here is the scoop on the KY incident:

Richmond said Burrus denied causing the damage in the park, but confirmed he was driving the vehicle earlier this morning and left it after it stopped working.

Henderson police officers and deputies from the Henderson County Sheriff's Office investigated the incident.

Burrus was found and arrested at his sister's apartment complex on Zion Road, and is being held at the Henderson County Detention Center. He is charged with first degree criminal mischief and leaving the scene of an accident.

Richmond said a large number of tips, Facebook posts, and vehicle searches helped officers make the connection and arrest Burrus.

Richmond said earlier on Saturday that the damage appeared to be deliberate because the driver had to jump the curb to get to the display. She said the incident took place shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday.

http://www.wbir.com/news/nation-now/arrest-made-in-memorial-day-cross-display-vandalism/220453286

And at this time, he is being charged with criminal mischief if I did not excerpt that.

[TomSea]

It doesn't matter to me but maybe this would be better placed in the National News section or even Military.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Good idea Tomsea.

@mystery-ak Please move to military.

[Chosen Daughter]

What do you expect when the candidate for POTUS is equally disrespectful?  That is what this generation will be known for.  Their disrespect and it is blatantly obvious to me that when we float leaders of immorality we cannot expect the people to embrace morality.  I have always gone by the saying that a person leads by example.  Right now in the news ours are leading us to disrespect.  Oh, I know this has been growing for many years.  A generation of youth who have no respect for good people who gave their lives so that they can be free.  I guess we are taking our freedom to a direction of disrespect and immorality.  No good leaders to follow.  And it isn't just Trump so you know I will not single him out.  But our elected representatives who knowingly and frequently break the laws without any expectation of being punished.  No leaders to follow.