The Labor Day holiday weekend is a time for showing respect and paying homage to the labor force that makes this country so great. However, this past weekend, someone missed the mark.
It’s been discovered that one of the monuments at Soldiers Park in Tyrone was vandalized, more than likely during the extended weekend and, ironically, the target was the statue honoring American veterans of World War I who traded their lunch pails and work boots for arms to defend this country. The soldier that serves as the “centerpiece” for the park is now missing his bayonet that once extended from the end of his service rifle.
Tyrone Borough Police chief Joe Beachem said an investigation is under way.
“I don’t think I have to tell you how utterly despicable it is that someone or some people would purposefully steal from a monument erected to honor our nation’s fallen war heroes,” Beachem said. “We’ll be looking in to the situation, we’ll be keeping our ears and eyes open and we hope that someone that may know information about this crime will have the courage to come forward and help us solve it.”
Tyrone Borough Councilman Bill Fink shared Beachem’s disgust.
“This monument is to pay tribute to those who answered the call to arms and lost their lives so the rest of us can live in freedom and dignity,” said Fink.
“My father spent most of his life working for the Pennsylvania Railroad after serving his country in the U.S. Army during the second World War,” he continued. “He, along with many others from Tyrone, did this so those who chose to remove the bayonet could enjoy the freedom to make that choice.”
Beachem said crimes such as this are usually difficult to solve without a tip from someone in the know, so he’s hopeful that someone will come forward.
“Acts such as these are senseless and it’s a slap in the face to all who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom,” the chief said.
Beachem urged anyone with information to contact the Tyrone Borough Police at 684-1364.
