Residents and community leaders in South Boston are shaking their heads, perplexed by acts of vandalism to three veterans’ memorials that occurred earlier this week.
Vandals Strike
Outrage has grown since the incidents were discovered on Wednesday morning, reported Boston.com. Vandals targeted the community’s Medal of Honor Park, Korean War Memorial, and the Admiral Farragut Statue, knocking over and crumpling up American flags, removing them, and tossing them across a nearby road.
The incident is being investigated by local and state authorities, and they believe the vandalism happened between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday. Not much else is known about the incident, but both the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police are investigating.
Thomas J. Fitzgerald VFW Post 561, a local veterans organization in South Boston, wrote about vandalism on its Facebook page, wondering why anyone would target memorials.
“I feel that I can speak for the active duty and veterans that this disrespect of our flag is a slap in the face. Why would someone do this? Do they not know what our flag stands for? The ultimate sacrifice paid by some for our freedom or the pain the families carry who have lost their loved ones,” the post states.
“This act is unacceptable; we need to hold whoever did this accountable, and we will. Our local politicians are standing with us, and a police report has been filed. If anyone has information, please contact the police.”
Reactions
Local politicians were also dismayed by the vandalism, igniting responses from State Rep. David Biele, State Sen. Nick Collins, and City Councilor Ed Flynn. All three came together, with local veterans, for a meeting at Medal of Honor Park to inspect the damage and address the issue.
“It is unacceptable to cause vandalism to an American flag and/or any veterans’ memorial,” Flynn wrote in a joint statement with Collins and Biele. “These memorials are not just monuments; they are places of remembrance that acknowledge the supreme sacrifice made by these heroic veterans. We stand with our veterans and military families and respect the American flag today and every day.”
Flynn, who filed a criminal report to the Boston Police Department, would like to see an upgrade in security around the memorials to “protect public assets honoring veterans and help law enforcement hold those accountable who violate the law by defacing them.”
Flynn is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Operation Enduring Freedom. Flynn also stated that in times of struggle and unity, the American flag captures the strength and legacy of the U.S., American service members, veterans, Gold Star families, and active-duty military families.
“We need to increase our security infrastructure, including camera coverage to protect public assets honoring veterans and help law enforcement hold those accountable who violate the law by defacing them,” Flynn wrote.
“Following last night’s incident, we must reaffirm our commitment to the values the American Flag represents to so many in South Boston, the Commonwealth, and throughout the nation.”
The South Boston vandalism follows another incident in Brighton, Colorado, last month, where vandals struck the Adams County Veterans Memorial for the 10th time in two years.
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