Valley Independent Sentinel

VCF Creates Fund To Replace Stolen Memorials

by Caitlin Emma | Jan 12, 2012 8:02 pm

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Posted to: Ansonia, Derby, Shelton

A community effort is underway to raise money to replace several war memorial plaques that were recently stolen from three Valley communities.

The Valley Community Foundation Thursday announced it would match up to $6,000 in donations to restore memorial plaques stolen from Ansonia, Derby and Shelton.

“While we may never recover the original and historic plaques that have been ripped from their homes, we do have a Valley-wide opportunity to join together to replace these irreplaceable items,” said James Cohen, president of the Valley Community Foundation.

Cohen spoke at a press conference at the Woodbridge Avenue Honor Roll and War Memorial in Ansonia, where two large bronze plaques were stolen in early December.

Plaques were also stolen from the Frank P. Witek Memorial Park in Derby and a memorial dedicated to Commodore Isaac Hull in Shelton.

The Valley Community Foundation is putting up $5,000. Cohen gathered another $1,000 from his family members, in order to match donations from concerned residents. In all, the Valley Community Foundation hopes to gather at least $50,000 to restore all three memorials.

Cohen said the details of how the money will be distributed for new plaques are still being worked out.

Ansonia Mayor James Della Volpe, Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and the Derby Historical Society all threw their support behind the fund.

“We feel very honored to help put this together,” said Julia Baldini, president of the Derby Historical Society. “Many of our veterans are getting older and these thefts were so disrespectful to this great generation.”

“We are very grateful to James Cohen and the Valley Community Foundation,” said Della Volpe, whose father and uncles’ names were on the stolen Ansonia memorial.

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro also spoke at the press conference Thursday about legislation they proposed that would make stealing and transporting veteran memorials across state lines a federal crime.

Community Reeling

The Valley Community Foundation fund and the proposed legislation are the first steps toward rectifying the damage done to the Valley and its veterans, according to many who attended the event.

“It’s the beginning of something that has to be done,” said Paul Varsanik, a member of American Legion Post #24.

About 20 local veterans lined up against the Woodbridge Avenue Honor Roll and War Memorial in Ansonia Thursday during the press conference.

The speakers and many who attended lauded the Valley’s sense of community and solidarity stemming from thefts that hit hard for so many.

“I can’t say I’m happy to be here today, but I’m happy to see this kind of community support,” Murphy said. “This isn’t just about the stone and the bronze and the brass. This memorial represents what families put on the line.”

Murphy and DeLauro agreed that anyone who tried to benefit from stealing the plaques assaulted the values of the community and its veterans, many who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

“It’s so wonderful to see how the people from Washington and the community have come together over this,” said Paul Lutson, a member of American Legion Post #24. “The community is behind this now.”

The thieves most likely scrapped them for the value of the metals, possibly out of state, Ansonia police said in December.

Changing The Law

The Protect Veterans’ Memorials Act amends part of a federal code that says the transportation of stolen goods over $5,000 across state lines constitutes a federal felony. The act removes the $5,000 threshold — making the theft a federal felony no matter the monetary value.

DeLauro, the daughter of a veteran, said she thought the bill would enjoy bipartisan support in Congress.

State Rep. Len Greene, who represents Ansonia, Beacon Falls and Seymour, also said Thursday that he will draft legislation for the upcoming legislative session that will strengthen state law and increase penalties on people convicted of defacing or stealing veterans’ monuments.

“The nature of these crimes warrants stiffer penalties than we already have,” Greene said in an e-mailed statement. “Veterans’ monuments and memorials are worth more than their value of metal, they’re a testament to service and sacrifice and must be better protected.”

How To Donate

• Anyone interested in giving to the Veterans Memorial Plaques Restoration Fund can donate online at www.valleyfoundation.org.

• Donations can also be made by check and mailed to the Valley Community Foundation at 253-A Elizabeth Street, Derby, CT 06418.

• VCF asks that all checks are made payable to Valley Community Foundation with Veterans Memorial Plaques Restoration Fund on the memo line.

• Donations are 100 percent tax deductible.

Several rewards are being offered for information leading the arrest and conviction of the thieves who stole the memorials. On Tuesday, the Ansonia Board of Aldermen voted to offer a $2,000 reward.

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