Veterans' headstones vandalized in Fredericton cemetery
It’s been more than a week since a number of headstones in the veterans’ section of a Fredericton cemetery were vandalized and still no leads on who was behind it.
More than 20 headstones have been defaced, all within the Royal Canadian Legion’s section of the Forest Hill Cemetery.
The president of the Fredericton Legion, Don Swain, says he’s outraged by the graffiti.
"I know the families are really choked up about it,” Swain said.
“As well, as we are… and it's just, like I say, it's just a disgrace.”
Some of the headstones are least 30 years old.
Terri-Ann McTiernan and her husband Mark spent time Wednesday scrubbing spray paint off her aunt and uncle’s headstone.
"It was like a sucker punch, it's senseless,” said McTiernan when she first saw the headstone.
“I don't even know how to describe it, it's so hurtful.”
McTiernan says she is shocked someone would do something so disrespectful to veterans’ graves.
“But why would somebody would do this? Why do it to the legion and people that fought for our country? It’s even worse,” McTiernan said.
Police say they believe the vandalism occurred over two separate incidents in recent weeks.
"To learn that the headstones of our veterans were defaced is such a shameful act,” said Martin Gaudet, Fredericton’s chief of police.
Gaudet says police are following up on leads for the two files associated with the vandalism.
Those who operate the Forest Hill Cemetery say the graffiti will be removed in the coming days.
They’re trying to determine the best way to deal with it so it doesn’t damage the headstones.
"As the area councillor, I'm very concerned that Forest Hill Cemetery won't have the resources it needs to maintain it's property, if it has to continue paying for these kind of vicious vandalisms,” said Greg Ericson, Ward 8 councillor and Fredericton’s Deputy Mayor.
With Remembrance Day just around the corner Swain hopes the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
"These people just don't realize who gave them their freedom,” Swain said.
The province’s Military Affair’s minister Mary Wilson said in a statement, “I am deeply disappointed by the unnecessary and pointless vandalism to the Forest Hill Cemetery, including damage to several graves belonging to past serving members of Canada's military.”
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
An apartment block collapses in a Russian border city after heavy shelling, injuring over a dozen
An apartment block partially collapsed in the Russian border city of Belgorod on Sunday, leaving at least 19 injured. Officials blamed Ukrainian shelling and said there were also likely deaths.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Swiss fans get ready to welcome Eurovision winner Nemo back home
Swiss Eurovision fans were getting ready Sunday to give a hero's welcome to singer Nemo, who won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest with "The Code," an operatic pop-rap ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing a nongender identity.
Flash floods and cold lava flow hit Indonesia's Sumatra island. At least 37 people were killed
Heavy rains and torrents of cold lava and mud flowing down a volcano's slopes on Indonesia’s Sumatra island triggered flash floods that killed at least 37 people and more than a dozen others were missing, officials said Sunday.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
'Reimagining Mother's Day': Toronto woman creates Motherless Day event after losing mom
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
Michael Cohen: A challenging star witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial
He once said he would take a bullet for Donald Trump. Now Michael Cohen is prosecutors' biggest piece of legal ammunition in the former president's hush money trial.