SAN ANTONIO – The final resting place for dozens of American heroes was desecrated and vandalized this week.
The San Antonio National Cemetery staff found seven broken headstones, one private monument set on fire, six headstones spray-painted and two light fixtures damaged Wednesday.
"That's the painful part of it ... those people gave their lives and their time for us to have the freedoms that we have," said Frieda Robinson, cemetery director.
Robinson said she estimates the damage to be between $3,000 and $5,000.
“Those headstones are irreplaceable. They were there at the time of the burials. You're talking about headstones that are 75 to 100 years old," Robinson said.
Robinson also had a message for the families who buried their loved ones at the cemetery.
"My heartfelt apologies. It hurts us as well, of course not quite the same. But most of my staff is veterans, so we have a vested interest in the cemetery and the work we do."
A police report has been filed. Anyone with information about who is responsible for the vandalism is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 210-224-7867.