In Beeville Texas a war memorial honoring veterans killed in four separate wars, was destroyed. (Hat Tip to Bob for the email)
That memorial once stood as five granite panels, with the names of 45 veterans who lost their lives, paying the ultimate sacrifice. But Tuesday, the memorial lies in pieces at the city's maintenance yard.
Local veterans said they're not sure when the memorial was vandalized. They say it looks like someone took their car and just rammed into it. The memorial was erected in 1989 and residents there said they're devastated by it's vandalism, because it's more than just rock - it's a symbol of freedom.
"This particular war memorial has World War I, World War II, Korean and Vietnam. And so it has quite a bit of names," Vietnam War veteran Ram Chavez said.
Now, veterans there are asking for help from anyone who can help raise the money to replace and repair that memorial.
This memorial is important to this town, to the families of the fallen and to veterans across the country.
With that said, I will be emailing this story to Fisher House, Soldier's Angels, Spirit of America and anyone else that we can try to get to help.
Please email me at wakeupamerica.spree@gmail.com or leave a note in the comments if you have any ideas of others that can help this town get the funds they need to repair or rebuild this memorial.
This is not a political issue, it is not a Republican nor Democratic issue, we may all disagree about Iraq, but I see Republicans and Democrats alike claiming they support our troops, I see people saying they honor our veterans.... so let us do so.
The vandalism of the memorial has Beeville veterans saddened, and others are outraged. It even brought one veteran to tears.
Behind the broken tablets of granite, were the broken hearts of local veterans.
"That monument there, don't have the advantage of defending itself, like I do, or you do," Korean War veteran Magdaleno R. Velasco said.
Velasco, 88, served 26 years in the Army, he was wounded in the right foot during the Korean War.
"I can walk a little, but my fellow soldiers, they lose a leg or a hand and they're in wheelchairs," Velasco said.
Vietnam War veteran Ram Chavez of Corpus Christi said the memorial honored the lives of those who sacrificed greatly for their country.
"It has names of young men who just didn't get the opportunity to do anything," Chavez said. "Ride a motorcycle, be a teacher, coach...have children. They were 17, 18, 19, 20 year olds killed in action."
Chavez said that while those who died will never be replaced, he hopes their memorial will be.
"The damage, those memories are lost and that cannot happen," Chavez said. "If we forget the names, then we'll forget everyone that's made us free."
Police are not investigating incident at this point, saying there's no way to determine if memorial was vandalized. Or damaged by accident. Veterans said they hope local businesses will help raise the money to rebuild it.
The memorial cost $10,000 when it was built in 1989.
[Quick Update] From CavMom-- Quick update: I have been on the phone with Mr. Velasco who is a disabled Veteran in Beeville, TX. He will be spear heading all collections from his end and we will tie in directly with the Veterans in Beeville! He is getting help setting up from the Veterans in Corpus Christi. We will have the Memorial back up with the help of America!
[Update] A huge thank you to Curt from Flopping Aces for joining in this effor to help this town right this horrible wrong.
Thanks to CavMom from 2nd Verse Same as the 1st for linking and offering to help by either putting a donation button up or even setting one up herself.
Thanks to DeMediacratic Nation for jumping on this also... God, the spirit of America in action folks.
Thanks to YID With LID for cross posting this also.
Thanks to Beth from Blue Star Chronicles for joining in this effort and sending out emails to garner more support.
5/19/07- Huge thank you to BigDog from Big Dogs Weblog for adding the donation button to his sidebar to help with this effort to get the memorial rebuilt.
[Update] CavMom from 2nd Verse same as the 1st has set up a blog just for this effort where people can donate to help the town of BeeHive replace the destroyed memorial.
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