From the Press of Atlantic City, August 13, 2009, Rob Spahr, Staff Writer
MULLICA TOWNSHIP - Elaine Frick heard the rumor at a family reunion - the grave site of her ancestors had been vandalized.
The grave site's headstone - which marked the final resting place of several members of the prominent Butterhof family - had stood undisturbed in the Egg Harbor City Cemetery since the late 1800s.
But Frick found it lying face down and in pieces, along with eight other century-old tombstones that were recently damaged by vandals.
The grave sites are part of what's called "the old section," an area in the rear of the cemetery that includes graves dating to the 19th century.
The brief inscriptions on many of the plain-white marble tombstones have long since faded, and generations of descendants have gone from visiting the grave sites to having their own nearby.
Sometime between July 29 and 31, nine of the taller headstones were knocked over by vandals.
Once free-standing crosses now rest on their sides, detached from their bases and, in most cases, shattered beyond repair.
A once-towering monument in memory of the Brand family dating to 1887 was knocked off its base with so much force that it is now firmly embedded in the ground.
"It's like when you walk up to a house that has been destroyed by a fire or a disaster, and you get that terrible sinking feeling. It's horrible," Frick said of seeing the damage for the first time. "The few minutes of what they thought was fun or funny was just a total disregard, not only for the people who passed, but also the living family members who use this as a place to grieve, find comfort or just pay their respects."
Because the vandalism occurred in a section of the Egg Harbor City Cemetery that is in Mullica Township, it will fall upon that municipality's Police Department to investigate the incident.
"There were no witnesses, so we're asking anyone who might have any information about this or who may have seen anything suspicious to call us," said Detective Brian Zeck, adding those responsible could be charged with offenses including criminal mischief and trespassing. "Most of these headstones were so old, that I don't know if they could even be repaired. How do you put a value on, or replace, that?"
Frick, who is the municipal prosecutor for Egg Harbor City, said she would like to see those responsible also be required to do a special kind of community service if they are caught.
"Perhaps they could be made to do more than just pulling weeds and picking up trash at the cemetery," said Frick, of Egg Harbor City. "Maybe they could be made to help during actual funerals so they could see the grief people have when someone they love is buried, and so they can learn the significance of what grave sites mean to family members."
Anyone with information regarding the vandalism is asked to call Zeck of the Mullica Township Police Department at 609-561-7600.
2 comments:
I will never be able to understand the mindset of people who commit such dispicable acts. The desecration of a cemetery should require a jail sentence not just community service. These senseless cowards have destroyed a part of our town's history and have caused such pain to the relatives of the deceased.
The perpetraters may never know the pain they have caused until they lose a loved one and stand at their grave,look down and remember what they did to someone else's family.
On 8/06/09 Several mailboxes were also vandalized in Mullica, Elwood NJ. I can't help but wonder if it is the same brat's that did the cemetery?
I guess now that school is out, they have nothing better to do then damage property?
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