Posted on 02/16/2006 9:17:49 AM PST by pittsburgh gop guy
Vandals hit Gettysburg National Military Park overnight, damaging three Civil War monuments and stealing a 120-year-old sword.
Park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon said the intruders pulled the top stone and sculpture off the 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Monument, which was dedicated on Oct. 8, 1885.
They also stole a sword from that monument. Ms. Lawhon said this morning that the sword was taken from a sculpted arm attached to the monument.
Park rangers hope the theft will help them solve the case. A healthy market exists for Civil War-era weapons, particularly from Gettysburg. Many collectors, though, are on the lookout for stolen items.
In addition to the Massachusetts memorial, vandals also damaged monuments to Pennsylvania and New York units that fought at Gettysburg.
They pulled down the bronze sculpture of a Zouave infantryman from the pedestal of the 114th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Monument. It was dedicated on July 2, 1886.
The third monument attacked by intruders also was a bronze sculpture. It featured a Civil War artilleryman from the monument to Smith's battery, also known as the 4th New York Battery.
The Smith's battery monument was dedicated on July 2, 1888.
Gettysburg is patrolled by national park rangers and civilian volunteers, who keep an eye on the battlefield and its 1,400 monuments and markers at night.
Even so, this is third time in 18 months that vandals have damaged Gettysburg monuments.
The battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest of the Civil War. Some 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or vanished in three days of fighting. The battle was waged July 1-3, 1863.
(Excerpt) Read more at postgazette.com ...
Maybe they need a better security system?
I hope they get real jail time. Gettysburg is one of my favorite places. I've visited several times and when I visit I always find something I haven't seen before
Whoever did this should be flogged...
When they catch the kids who did this, they should be made to care for the field using 19th century equipment as part of their restitution (among othe things I can think of)
Set up a manned night time patrol and catch the scum
This makes me sick.
"Maybe they need a better security system?"
Kinda hard to secure since the monuments are all over the town and countryside, and public highways run through the park. But yes, the need to somehow make the monuments more secure.
dixieping
I thoroughly agree--and my ancestors fought for the South.
Great line! Ha ha. Actually, the reasons vandals vandalize is because our court system is too lenient and they know it. Hard time, full restitution, and a substantial fine may serve as an incentive to be a good boy.
i hope they do something UNPLEASANT to the creeps, when they're caught!
free dixie,sw
Shouldn't that be:
Felony hard time in prison, with a 250lb girlfriend boyfriend named Leroy
this is UTTERLY DISGUSTING!
free dixie,sw
This is really sad. Gettysburg is one of my favorite places to visit.
Very, very sad. :(
I suppose we are raising a generation where video game skills and political correctness classes have edged out basic history.
Well, keep an eye for that sword on eBay.
Disgraceful dishonorable punks ping.
Nothing a baseball bat couldn't correct.
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