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“It shocks the conscience to comprehend someone
stooping so low as to steal for scrap metal a memorial commemorating those brave men and women
who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” Kugler said.
The chief also said he cannot fathom the idea that a scrap metal recycling business “that would accept such a meaningful item for destruction.”
The seven monuments were removed from St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery on Outwater Lane, a short distsance from Peter & Paul’s Russian Orthodox Cemetery, where two were reported stolen earlier this week.
The flat, solid bronze markers provided to deceased military veterans from the United States Veterans Administration “were lifted out of the ground, some together with their granite and concrete base, sometime over the past several days,” Kugler said.
“It is a very significant unlawful act which is not only a crime, but causes the family and
other concerned and caring people, especially veterans, to get emotionally upset and outraged. All
cemetery environments, especially those of deceased military veterans, deserve honor and dignity,
not pilfering and desercration of their grave sites.“
Police are asking all metal recycling businesses to immediately report any incidents of persons
attempting to offer the grave monuments for scrap metal.
If someone tries to sell you one of the monuments, or you have any information that would help police recover them, call Saddle Brook police: 201-843-7000
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