CHICAGO (CBS) — Elwood Police are investigating vandalism to a monument honoring lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.
A substance like roofing tar was poured over a portion of the monument, which was the first in a national cemetery officially honoring LGBT veterans when it was dedicated two years ago. WBBM’s Mike Krauser reports.
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Vandals Deface LGBT Monument In Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (Credit: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery)
Cemetery Director Sean Baumgartner said what the vandal or vandals fails to understand is the cemetery is “a place of honor and sacrifice.”
“Well definitely not a good thing at all. The vandalism was a horrible thing. It was really a slap in the face to veterans everywhere and it was really uncalled for,” Baumgartner said.
He said they need to be held accountable.
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LGBT Veterans Monument (Credit: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery)
Workers were able to clean the material off the monument and Baumgartner said there’s no permanent damage. It is a federal crime to deface property in a national cemetery. Whoever did it could face state and federal charges.
Its not lost on LGBT advocates that the vandalism occurred during Pride Month.
MORE NEWS: Chicago Weather: A Little Snow For The WeekendThe Chicago Chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights said its a truly sad state of affairs that someone would deface this lovely monument.
