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Cenotaph/Memorial Vandalism/Solutions-Laws (merged)

This from the Minister of Veterans Affairs:
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today announced that the Government of Canada is supporting Private Member’s Bill C-217, which would make it an offence to commit mischief in relation to a monument that honours Canadians who died as a consequence of war.

"Our cenotaphs and monuments are powerful reminders of the sacrifices that generations of Canadians have made for the peace and freedom we enjoy today," said Minister Blaney. "Our Government is proud to support Bill C-217 which will enforce strict punishments for those who dishonour the memory of our Veterans by defacing war memorials within our communities."

The proposed bill would make it an offence to commit mischief in relation to property, buildings, or structures, including a war memorial or cenotaph, that primarily serve as a monument in honour of persons who were killed or died as a consequence of war. The bill also proposes the creation of mandatory minimum penalties that would be the same whether the Crown proceeds by indictment or by way of summary conviction: a $1,000 fine for a first offence; fourteen (14) days imprisonment for a second offence; and, thirty (30) days imprisonment for a third and subsequent offence ....
VAC news release, 8 Nov 11

More on the bill itself here.
 
We have vandalism laws...........we just suck at enforcing them.

Obviously, a new law that we won't enforce is the answer.
 
CDN Aviator said:
We have vandalism laws...........we just suck at enforcing them.

Obviously, a new law that we won't enforce is the answer.

:goodpost:
 
A Korean War veteran living in Regina is disappointed after someone spray painted obscene graffiti on the east side of the cenotaph in Victoria Park.  Ken Garbutt says the people who did it are “idiots” and the act is sacrilegious.  The City of Regina has since cleaned it up, but Garbutt is not impressed.  “Our cemetery, the U.N. cemetery, is in Busan (City, South Korea) and you never hear of anything of this nature. They are kept in the best shape possible,” said Garbutt.  Garbutt maintains there should be stiffer penalties for people who deface war memorials ....
News Talk 980 CJME, 30 Nov 11

Veterans Affairs minister agrees it's bad:
Canada's veterans affairs minister says every citizen has a duty to preserve the country's war memorials.

Steven Blaney says he's saddened and appalled about vandalism at a cenotaph in Regina's Victoria Park.

Someone spray-painted obscene graffiti on the east side of the monument to soldiers.

Blaney says such structures are reminders of the sacrifices that generations of Canadians have made for peace and freedom.

Blaney says the federal government supports a private member's bill that would make it an offence to commit mischief in relation to a war memorial ....
Canadian Press, 1 Dec 11

Tory MP happy to see government support new law:
Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, CPC): 
    Mr. Speaker, across the country, our cenotaphs and monuments serve to remind Canadians of the sacrifices made so that we might live free.

    I was saddened to hear news reports that a cenotaph in Regina was spray painted with graffiti. When individuals deface war memorials they dishonour the men and women who have bravely served this country and those who wear the Canadian uniform with pride today.

    I am pleased that the Minister of Veteran Affairs announced that the government will be supporting Bill C-217, which would make it an offence to commit mischief in relation to a war monument. While it is unfortunate that such a bill is necessary, we have an obligation as a nation to respect and protect these monuments and to honour the sacrifices that they symbolize.

    I thank the member for Dufferin--Caledon for bringing forward this legislation. I hope the individuals responsible for the vandalism to the cenotaph in Regina are found and held responsible.
 
Early November I noticed that the bronze plaque was missing on our cenotaph.

With some of the aluminium light posts sawn down by someone
to sell as scrap metal, I was startled and disgusted to think that somebody
would do such a thing. I checked the local newspapers and couldn't find anything about it.
I checked it out regularly.

But then just before Remembrance day, there it was, just a shining like
someone did a whole lot of extra duties.
 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2011/09/26/girouard-park-cenotaph-vandalized.html

"My" monument got tagged again in September...
 
Dirtbags must be dirtbags................ :soldier:


Stolen soldiers' grave markers sold for scrap metal

Erica Bajer, QMI Agency

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 07:38 PM EST
 
ST. CATHARINES, ONT. - More than 150 metal maple leaf markers, which stand proudly alongside Canadian flags on the graves of local soldiers at Victoria Lawn Cemetery, have been stolen.
And police say the metal markers were sold for scrap.
"These people don't realize what we did for the world," veteran Harry Dobell, 91, of St. Catharines, said. "I feel very mad about it."

Dobell, who fought in the Second World War in an anti-aircraft regiment, said the metal markers commemorate the valiant efforts of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom.
He said they are a reminder to never forget.
Police said their investigation led them to a home on Queenston St. where some of the markers were found.

Dave Jewers, 41, and Chris Brisley, 36, each face one count of theft over $5,000, police said.
They are scheduled to appear in court in March.
Mike Gander of the Royal Canadian Legion branch 138 in Merritton, Ont., was outraged to hear about the thefts.

"These veterans gave them the privilege to be here to steal," he said of the culprits.
Gander, 61, who served in the reserves and Canadian Forces during peacetime, checked on the graves of his father and grandfathers Thursday. While the markers remained with his loved ones, some had been stolen from the graves of friends.
"Stealing from veterans' graves is just absolutely disgusting," he said.

Gander said the legion has been providing the markers for as long as he can remember. He recalled visiting the cemetery with his father as a child and seeing the metal maple leafs.
"He's probably spinning in his grave right now," Gander said of his father.
He said there are thousands of the markers in the cemetery. Older ones are made of bronze but the majority are cast aluminum, he said.

Niagara Regional Police Staff Sgt. Shawn Clarkson said the thefts were reported Tuesday around 11 a.m. and within two hours members of the street crimes unit had two suspects in their sights. He said the thefts occurred within the past week.
He credits tips from the public in helping crack the case so quickly.
Clarkson said 153 kilograms of the markers, about 80 to 90 of them, were recovered from local scrap yards. He expects the rest of the metal maple leafs will also be returned to the cemetery.

He said each maple leaf marker weighs about 2.25 kg and the newer ones cost $50 each to make.
Clarkson said the tips didn't come from the scrap yards. However, the businesses did co-operate with police during the investigation.
"They are unique and there are some questions they (scrap yards) will have to answer," he said.
He said the Canadian flags that accompany the markers were discarded in a heap in the cemetery.

"They are going after the metal. It's not just metal to citizens, it's something else -- it's something symbolic that shouldn't be touched," he said. "It's quite disturbing to have this happen to fallen soldiers' graves."
Cemetery services supervisor Tim Lagace said this is the first time he can recall a theft of this sort happening locally.
"We haven't had any vandalism here in a number of years," he said.

He said a member of the grounds crew noticed the missing markers and contacted police.
"We're just in the process of putting them back on the graves," he said, noting staff was happy to help return the markers.

ebajer@stcatharinesstandard.ca
 
These two should be publicly shamed if convicted.


The scrapyards, if they knowingly bought stolen property, should be made to pay for the replacement markers.


Scum. Dirt. Trash.
 
Jim Seggie said:
These two should be publicly shamed if convicted.


The scrapyards, if they knowingly bought stolen property, should be made to pay for the replacement markers.


Scum. Dirt. Trash.

Yes, they are Scum. Dirt. Trash and POS.

This crap is rampant in the UK as well.  Their British cousins both thieves and dealers have been working over cenotaphs and other memorials from one end of the island to the other.  For people like these the use of stocks should be re-instituted, at places where they are guaranteed to have the maximum exposure to the elements and people's scorn.  I'd gladly buy some rotten tomatoes to share with them.  :rage:
 
These two guys see the government (VAC, SISIP) stealing from soldiers everyday, so they figured they could get away with it also.
Scum. Dirt. Trash.
the two guys and those responsible for stealing daily from CF members and Veterans.
 
Fair amount of vandalism against armouries and SMP vehicles on the rise in this area too, not sure what that says, nothing good to be sure
 

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