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Four generations of my family are buried in four different cemeteries in close proximity to one another. Yesterday I paid a visit to all four cemeteries after receiving word that one of them had been hit by vandals. What I found there was very disturbing! Broken granite markers were lying all around the cemetery, at least 103 were damaged according to the newspaper report. Thank God, the other three cemeteries did not receive damage from the criminal vandals!
My maternal great grandfather's family came to Texas in the mid-1850's, and he and his family are buried there, but his large family marker was not damaged. Markers for two of his babies buried in 1877 and 1882 were broken several years ago when a similar incident occurred. This cemetery is probably one of the oldest, maybe the oldest, in this county, and markers are there for many early settlers and several Confederate Army soldiers, including my great grandfather. The cemetery is right in town, surrounded by occupied homes and a church; yet nobody seems to know how or exactly when the dastardly damage occurred.
Some of the markers were beautiful tall spirals; others were simple small upright markers; nonetheless all were a precious piece of history. Why anyone would want to do this is incomprehensible!
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This kind of damage is scattered all across the cemetery! Workers tried to move some of the pieces close together in hopes they won't get scattered further. Look at the top right picture; it is evident this is not the first time that marker was damaged. The pieces in the front are embedded in the soil, while the base and the pieces behind show recent damage, since any rain. Most likely there are very few family members who will ever know this has happened to their early family burial sites. Most have either moved away generations ago, and may have all died elsewhere.
I took more pictures of my great grandfather's family markers, but chose not to post them. It is a large solid marker, probably five feet tall, four feet wide, and about two feet thick, and on a larger base, with his Confederate marker standing at his feet. If and when vandals decide hit it with a vehicle, they will be walking home; their vehicle will be out of commission!
Most likely the criminals will never be caught, but I can tell you if they are, this County will prosecute them, I hope to the fullest degree allowed by law, regardless of their age! There is no excuse for such actions!
---"Love"
It is so sad that anyone would vandalize the final resting place of anyone. I certainly hope that the offenders are caught and prosecuted then they can have plenty of time in jail to 'laugh' at their "joke'.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm angry too!
I'm sorry this has happened. You are justified to be angry, this kind of destruction is not necessary. It's probably kids "having fun" but it is so disrespectful. I hope they are caught and have to face what they have done. It's good you have pictures of your families markers, they are special.
ReplyDeleteThis amazes me. Property destruction on this level always does. I cannot fathom how anyone would think this is a reasonable action. Do whatever you wish to your own property and person, but this... I'm so sorry. (I suppose the graveyard-roaming brain-eating zombies left them alone, as there wasn't much nourishment to be had?)
ReplyDeleteI can understand why you are so angry. It's beyond me why people want to destroy. I certainly hope they find the people who did this. I find it all very sad. Connie204
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I can't think of anything else to add. This type of behavior has always puzzled me. So sorry, Love.
ReplyDeleteLiri
You have a perfect right to be angry. Like you, I find it hard to believe someone could be capable of such a cowardly act.
ReplyDelete*hugs*, Jen.
I can understand your position on this, Love. And you wonder what these people are thinking when they see this on the news. Just stupid.
ReplyDeleteKathy
I don't understand what gets into someone who could do such distruction! I am so sorry.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
This is so sad! I will never understand how people can have such blatant disrespect for people (living or passed). What a tragic loss and I hope they find those responsible.
ReplyDeleteThat makes me so mad too! It has happened in our area as well and I just cannot imagine the sick minds that some people have! They just have no conscience at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you for your comments! I'm glad to report that the suspected young vandals have been arrested, and are in Juvenile Detention for the time being. I'm not sure what the outcome will be. ---"Love"
ReplyDeleteOh Love - what a wilful, wanton act of destruction. How on earth did we raise young people to have no care for such things? Two World War II memorials were recently damaged and vandalised here in Sydney - just after another of our boys was killed in Afghanistan. At least in your neck of the woods there will be some punishment. Here, they are left off without so much as a reprimand. Ann.
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