|
Published: July 23, 2008 08:10 pm
PENDLETON: Cemeteries deal with thefts of metal vases, plaques
By April Amadon
E-mail April
Niagara Gazette
There’s no marker at the spot where Evelyn Krehan’s brother is buried.
When Klaus Walther, a U.S. Navy veteran, died last fall, Krehan expected to have his grave, which is next to the graves of both their parents, marked with the bronze plaque provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I said, ‘If they’re going to do the military plaque, there’s no reason to carve up my parents’ stone,’ ” she said.
She said the plaque was received by the cemetery in the fall and was meant to be placed in the spring, but it never made it to the ground.
The bronze marker, which according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs weighs about 18 pounds, was stolen and may have been sold for scrap.
Two Town of Tonawanda men were charged last month in connection with thefts of metal vases at Elmlawn and Mount Olivet cemeteries in that town. Robert Samson, 52, of Sheridan-Parkside Drive, and James Howard, 47, of Pyle Court.
The men are also suspected in the thefts of vases from Acacia Park and Forest Lawn cemeteries. Cemetery employee Patty Young said hundreds of vases were stolen from Acacia Park.
Young described the thefts as a “planned venture.”
“It wasn’t like they just drove in and took a few,” she said. “It’s really sad because they hit all these cemeteries. ... We were glad they were caught.”
Niagara County Sheriff’s Deputy Brett Thompson said thefts from cemeteries aren’t very common, but the rising prices of scrap metal can lead people to steal anything made of metal.
“It’s made of bronze, and bronze is worth a lot of money,” he said. “That could become a problem.”
As a result of the thefts, area cemeteries have come together in an effort to replace the stolen vases and plaques.
“We are putting together a plan,” Young said.
The New York State Cemetery Board has a special vandalism fund, which acts as an insurance policy for cemeteries, Young said.
Krehan said she hopes other people will check their loved ones’ graves to make sure nothing has been stolen from them.
“I bet they’re going to have a heart attack, like I almost had, when they come thinking they’re going to find a bronze military plaque honoring their loved one, and there’s nothing but a bare plot of grass,” she said. “I’d like to save somebody some heartache.”
|
|
|
Photos
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Medical Office Assistant
MED. OFFICE ASST, PT, exp pref but not necessary, Med-Dent know- ledge helpful. Email resume to: mary paones sa@yahoo.c...>MORE
Truck Driver
TRUCK DRIVER: Local /OTR 200 mile radius. Must have dump trailer experience. 867-4663...>MORE
Cleaners
Housekeeping, Summer/ permanent help, p/t-4 day work wk, no w/e, bonuses, car nec. 694-2810 ...>MORE
Information Technology
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. Niagara County Community College is seeking a Coordinator of Multimedia and Web Services within ...>MORE
Spanish Teacher
SPANISH Teacher-F/T, Exp., NYS Cert. Send resume to khalgash@ wny.twcbc.com or St. Peter RC School 140 N. 6th St., Lewis...>MORE
Secretary
Secretary- F/T, Exp. Clerical, Comp., Acct. Skills. Send resume to St. Peter R.C. School, 140 N. 6th St. Lewiston, NY ...>MORE
Cooks
COOKS, Servers, part time. Apply within Joe’s Hideaway, 2230 Cayuga Dr. Ext., Whtfld 990-1261...>MORE
Technicians
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS
Exam Date: 9/12/09
Filing Period:
7/6/09 -7/22/09
EXAM FEE: $20.00
N.F. WA...>MORE
LPN
LPN - P/T positions available. Send resume to Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Dr., Lockport, NY 14094; Fax: 716-439-6035 AT...>MORE
COTA
PATIENT SERVICE MANAGER
Full-Time management position responsible for promoting & maintaining the...>MORE
See all ads |
Pontiac 2004 Grand Prix GT
PONTIAC 2004 Grand Prix GT 4 door, good cond, $8000, 998-5596...>MORE
Ford 1999 150 Truck
FORD 1999 150 pickup, good cond., tool box, bedliner, standard, $2500 or BO. 523-3653...>MORE
1997 Ford Taurus GL
FORD 1997 Taurus GL, good condition, cold A/C, cruise, 1 owner, white. $1995 or BO. 990-6187....>MORE
1994 Buick Roadmaster Wagon
BUICK 1994 Roadmaster Estate Wagon, V8, 130k, fair condition, 1 owner. $2800 or BO. 297-1061....>MORE
Dodge 2001 SLT
‘O1 DODGE SLT, 8’ bed, cap, spray line, low miles. Never seen winters, $7,300. 998-0230...>MORE
Ford 1993 Taurus
FORD 1993 Taurus, just inspected, runs good $900 or best offer,
284-0244...>MORE
Audi 1998 A6 Sedan
Audi 1998 A6 Sedan with 160k miles. Charcoal ext., Tan int., 4DR, Automatic, AWD, 6 Cylinder, Gas engine. Pow...>MORE
Ford Escape XLT 2001
FORD ESCAPE XLT 2001, remote start, new catalytic converter, 116K, $3800 or best offer. 480-3031...>MORE
1994 Pontiac Sunbird
PONTIAC 1994 Sunbird conv. V6, EC in & out, red w/blk top, wht int., CD, real sharp. $2850. 523-7102...>MORE
1950 Plymouth Custom
PLYMOUTH 1950 Custom, 4 dr, good shape, $1,500/BO. 795-0074...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
