Flat Rock Police Lt. Kevin Murphy described the vandalism as “indiscriminate.” He said, “I don’t think it was directed at veterans from what we gather so far.” However, the cemetery’s groundskeeper pointed out the timing of the incident over the Memorial Day weekend made it even worse. He placed American flags on the graves despite the destruction.
Visitors to the Vreeland Family Burying Ground spotted the damage and reported it to the authorities. The motive for the vandalism is unknown and no arrests have been made.
The burial ground is maintained by volunteers. According to the Flat Rock Historical Society, the city funded the restoration of several broken stones in 2014. “All of the stones that had been meticulously repaired a few years ago are again in pieces,” the society posted on its Facebook page. It is seeking donations to help pay for the repairs.
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