OF SOLDIERS’ HEADSTONES, AND THE STONE-HEARTED WHO WOULD STEAL THEM
By Eric Pierce
A veteran of the Civil War who has been buried in an unmarked grave at Artesia Cemetery in Cerritos for more than a century will finally receive a headstone on April 9. How long he’ll keep it is anybody’s guess. On Wednesday morning at Downey Cemetery, thieves made off with four bronze headstones belonging to U.S. military veterans.
Downey police suspect the headstones were stolen so they could be recycled for cash and have asked local recycling facilities to be on the lookout for the markers.
Two porky male suspects were seen leaving the cemetery in a black “lifted” Chevy Silverado pickup truck with a black camper shell. One was described as white or Hispanic, 6 ft. 3 inches tall and weighing about 300 lbs, wearing a white shirt and gray shorts. The other was described as white or Hispanic, 5 ft. 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 250 lbs, also wearing a white shirt and gray shorts.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Det. Jerry Price at (562) 904-2359 or Det. Mark Galindo at (562) 904-2326. Tips can also be left anonymously by calling (800) 222-TIPS or texting the letters TIPLA, plus your tip, to CRIMES (274637).
The Downey Cemetery’s roots back to 1868, and is the final resting site for more than 9,000 people, including veterans from the Gulf War to the Civil War.
Meanwhile, back at the Artesia Cemetery, Cpl. John W. Miller, of Company E, 118th Illinois Infantry has been resting in an unmarked grave since March 31, 1909—two days after died of pneumonia at the Old Soldiers’ Home in Sawtelle, CA.
But through the efforts of Margaret Alley, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and Floyd Farrar, of the Sons of Union Veteran of the Civil War, the cemetery has received a headstone from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
A dedication service will begin at 11 a.m. on April 9, with full military honors. The service is open to the public—but keep an eye open for a couple of fat dudes in a pickup truck.
3 Comments
Great story about Cpl. Miller!
As to the robbers of graves, whether the contents be above or below the ground, there must surely be a special place in hell for such creatures.
If thieves are stealing the headstones off graves because of the metal content; is’nt it smarter when it’s replaced to use some other kind of material, like granite or something similar.
Hi Dawn, Yes, that would be one response. But if we responded to all crimes of theft in that way, none of us would own anything of value because somebody else might one day steal it.
I think it makes perfect sense to engrave the stone directly, rather than attach a metal plaque later, but that’s how things were done back then and restoring the headstone to it’s original condition is a matter of historic significance, or so I believe.
I think it would be more constructive to require metal recycling businesses to report to local authorities whenever they receive suspicious items like headstone plaques or freeway guard rails, etc. In this way thieves like these will have no reasonable expectation that they will be able to profit financially from these sorts of crimes. I believe this approach places the emphasis, focus and responsibility where it properly belongs, on the criminal rather than the victim.