More than a hundred name plates were stolen from the cemetery at Lincoln Memorial Park in Carson, California. This burglary and vandalism occurred one week after a similar crime at Woodlawn Celestial Gardens in Compton. Bronze nameplates from mausoleum burials were among the stolen treasures, as was a big memorial commemorating WWII African American veterans donated in 1944 by the famed boxer Joe Louis.
Assistance from the Veteran’s Administration in maintaining the cemetery and providing security measures such as cameras has been ineffective
Lincoln Memorial Park, one of the first integrated cemeteries in Los Angeles County, sustained substantial damage. The burglars left tools beside a bust of President Lincoln at the veteran’s memorial, implying they attempted to steal that as well. According to community advocate Aisha Woods, removing these plaques requires considerable power. She thinks the criminals are selling the bronze pieces to resellers or recycling organizations.
The thefts have had an impact on families, with some replacing missing plaques with strips of tape on their loved ones’ graves. Despite efforts, assistance from the Veteran’s Administration in maintaining the cemetery and providing security measures such as cameras has been ineffective. The repeated thefts raise worries about the protection and preservation of historic sites, highlighting the need for community and government engagement. How can communities and authorities better protect historic and memorial sites from theft and vandalism? What role should government agencies play in preserving these important landmarks?
