Over a week has passed since numerous headstones in the Fredericton cemetery’s veterans’ section were disfigured by vandalism, yet the culprits remain unidentified.
Over two dozen veterans’ headstones, located in the Royal Canadian Legion’s plot of the Forest Hill Cemetery, have been tarnished. The despicable act has stirred outrage, particularly among the local community and existing members of the Legion, including its Fredericton Legion president, Don Swain.
Indignant and saddened by the incident, Swain voiced his dismay, disgusted by what he referred to as an utter disgrace. Dishearteningly, the act of vandalism was not restricted to newer markers; some of the tarnished grave markers were over three decades old. The emotional impact of this damage has resounded within the affected families and community.
On Wednesday, Terri-Ann McTiernan, accompanied by her husband Mark, painstakingly attempted to remove the graffiti from her relatives’ headstone. Finding their defaced headstone, she said, felt like a gut punch, struggling to find words to convey the intense sense of heartache caused by the disrespect to veterans’ graves.
Local authorities believe the disgraceful act unfolded through two incidents in recent weeks. Describing the vandalism as a shameful act, Fredericton’s chief of police Martin Gaudet informed that the police are pursuing leads related to the desecration.
The representatives of Forest Hill Cemetery have assured that the defacing graffiti would be attended to and removed shortly. The major challenge remains to clear the damage without causing further harm to the gravestones.
Ward 8 councillor and Fredericton’s Deputy Mayor, Greg Ericson, expressed his concern over the burden this heedless destruction imposes on the resources of the cemetery.
In light of the upcoming Remembrance Day, hope is growing among the disturbed community for the graffiti culprits to be caught. Swain emphasized the irony of the situation, highlighting the ignorance of those who fail to recognize the fight for freedom carried out by those who lie beneath the vandalized gravestones.
Mary Wilson, the province’s Military Affairs Minister, echoed the sentiments of disillusionment in a statement. She denounced the unreasonable vandalism inflicted on the Forest Hill Cemetery, especially the graves of the honored members of Canada’s military, expressing her deep disappointment.
