ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Investigators with the St. Louis County Police Department are searching for several memorial plaques that were stolen from Jefferson Barracks Park.
According to a Monday press release, the plaques that were stolen from the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater inside the park include insignia logo plaques for the Army and Marines, a memorial plaque dedicated to the employees of Wagner Electric who sacrificed their lives during World War II, and a bench plaque that honors the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.
Brian Schaffer, Director of Parks and Recreation, said, "Monday morning, the park maintenance workers noticed two of the plaques in front of the stage missing."
They believe the plaques could have been taken Sunday evening or early Monday Morning.
Schaffer explained in 2004, the park installed five plaques honoring the five armed forces.
Schaffer added, "Each one of these in 2004, they were $2,000 a piece and they were solid bronze. They are probably four to five thousand dollars a piece now. They were all bolted on. They’ve been on there for almost 20 years with no issues, they had to put significant effort in getting them."
Barbara Hehmeyer can't comprehend the crime.
Her late husband is buried at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, which is about five minutes away from the historic park.
"They going anywhere near the plaques and vandalizing it in some way, it’s just reprehensible. It’s terrible, that should not be happening," Hehmeyer added. "There are so many people who served our country, who did good things, and to see others take that away from them without thinking how much our countrymen saved for all of us."
As of Tuesday, St. Louis County Police said there is no suspect information and no arrests have been made.
“Jefferson Barracks Park is more than a recreation area – it’s a place that honors military service, veterans, and their families," St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page said in an emailed statement. "We are saddened that someone would deface memorials dedicated to those who made the supreme sacrifice for our country."
Anyone with information should contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210.
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