Posted on 05/25/2020 4:20:14 AM PDT by cll
The Puerto Rican Veterans Memorial in Boston's South End has been vandalized during a weekend dedicated to honoring service members.
Authorities said they believe the vandals — who pushed over a stone pillar and threw the Puerto Rican flag to the ground — struck Saturday night. The city is investigating the incident, and Boston Public Works crews and Boston Parks and Recreation staff members are working on repairs.
Boston Commissioner of Veterans Services Robert Santiago said the vandalism hits hard, especially on this weekend.
"Any time is bad timing when a memorial is damaged or defaced, but being that this is Memorial Day weekend and tomorrow is Memorial Day, it adds an extra ounce of significance," he said. "Remember what Memorial Day is all about. It's about taking a moment to reflect and recognize and honor all of our service members who have given and paid the ultimate price for the freedoms that we have today."
But, Santiago added, Boston will still honor and recognize the Puerto Rican men and women who have served the country. A service is planned at the memorial Monday at 12 p.m.
The memorial was unveiled in 2013 and is the first in the nation to honor service members from Puerto Rico. Around 200,000 Puerto Ricans have served in the U.S. military since the island became part of the United States in 1898, according to the Department of Defense.
I love visiting the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial in San Juan...........
A monument to Puerto Rican veterans gets vandalized...and no Trump supporters were blamed?
No handy eye witnesses to swear to the world that the dastardly villains were wearing MAGA hats and yelling “this is Trump country!” because Trump supporters hate people with brown skin?
Someone is Beantown is slipping.
Seriously, I hope the people who did do this are caught and have to pay for the damages.
I would bet there are no Irish flags taken out of Boston cemeteries. The Irish in Boston are the most racist Irish you will ever meet.
Perhaps the vandals thought the memorial was for Confederate soldiers.
Pay for damages? They can pay with their last breath for all I care for the vandals.
There were several Puerto Ricans (US Citizens) in my unit in Korea in ‘52-’53 and they were as fine a soldier as any and certainly as patriotic.
For any who fail to believe what Flavious here has to say,
Just google Boston school desegregated.
Way worse than anything that happened here in the south.
Bless all our Puerto Rican Veterans!
Thank You for everything FRiend!
My dear Grandfather fought in Korea in 1953.
I was wondering who would do this in liberal Boston.
Figured it was a juicy smollet kind of thing.
2. I have also visited Puerto Rico and driven all over the island. Everyone I met was great. I would also say the same with almost all the Hispanic people I have met over the decades in numerous Countries south of the border.
3. My point was why do politicians continue to use identity politics which tend to divide and not unite.
4. We are all Americans.
5. Anyone who served in the US Military should be respected and honored.
Thank you for your service and comment, I meant no disrespect to Puerto Ricans.
You must be a real old fart. Most of the Irish fled Boston in the 70’s and 80’s during the forced school busing crises.
thank you for your good reply
Paying with their last breath would work....after they have repaid the money for fixing the monument.
Call it a win-win.
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