Residents and group leaders in South Boston are shaking their heads, perplexed by acts of vandalism to a few veterans’ memorials that occurred earlier this week.
Vandals Strike
Outrage has grown for the reason that incidents had been found on Wednesday morning, reported Boston.com. Vandals focused the group’s Medal of Honor Park, Korean Battle Memorial, and the Admiral Farragut Statue, knocking over and crumpling up American flags, eradicating them, and tossing them throughout a close-by highway.
The incident is being investigated by native and state authorities, and so they imagine the vandalism occurred between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday. Not a lot else is thought concerning the incident, however each the Boston Police Division and the Massachusetts State Police are investigating.
Thomas J. Fitzgerald VFW Put up 561, an area veterans group in South Boston, wrote about vandalism on its Fb web page, questioning why anybody would goal memorials.
“I really feel that I can communicate for the lively responsibility and veterans that this disrespect of our flag is a slap within the face. Why would somebody do that? Do they not know what our flag stands for? The last word sacrifice paid by some for our freedom or the ache the households carry who’ve misplaced their family members,” the submit states.
“This act is unacceptable; we have to maintain whoever did this accountable, and we’ll. Our native politicians are standing with us, and a police report has been filed. If anybody has info, please contact the police.”
Reactions
Native politicians had been additionally dismayed by the vandalism, igniting responses from State Rep. David Biele, State Sen. Nick Collins, and Metropolis Councilor Ed Flynn. All three got here collectively, with native veterans, for a gathering at Medal of Honor Park to examine the harm and handle the difficulty.
“It’s unacceptable to trigger vandalism to an American flag and/or any veterans’ memorial,” Flynn wrote in a joint assertion with Collins and Biele. “These memorials are usually not simply monuments; they’re locations of remembrance that acknowledge the supreme sacrifice made by these heroic veterans. We stand with our veterans and navy households and respect the American flag at present and daily.”
Flynn, who filed a felony report back to the Boston Police Division, want to see an improve in safety across the memorials to “shield public belongings honoring veterans and assist regulation enforcement maintain these accountable who violate the regulation by defacing them.”
Flynn is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Operation Enduring Freedom. Flynn additionally said that in occasions of wrestle and unity, the American flag captures the power and legacy of the U.S., American service members, veterans, Gold Star households, and active-duty navy households.
“We have to improve our safety infrastructure, together with digicam protection to guard public belongings honoring veterans and assist regulation enforcement maintain these accountable who violate the regulation by defacing them,” Flynn wrote.
“Following final night time’s incident, we should reaffirm our dedication to the values the American Flag represents to so many in South Boston, the Commonwealth, and all through the nation.”
The South Boston vandalism follows one other incident in Brighton, Colorado, final month, the place vandals struck the Adams County Veterans Memorial for the tenth time in two years.
