EDITORIAL: Plaque thefts a vile desecration

Whoever is stealing war memorial plaques in the Valley has neither a sense of decency nor a feeling of pride in his country. The plaques list the names of area residents who served in the armed forces, some of whom died. Theft of the plaques should evoke the same disgust as spitting on the flag or desecration of a grave.
The first plaque was stolen in late November in Shelton. It commemorated Issac Hull, a Valley native and a hero of the War of 1812. As captain of the USS Constitution, Hull defeated a British frigate in a sea battle that showed the power of a young nation’s new Navy.
This month, two plaques were stolen from a war memorial on Woodbridge Avenue in Ansonia. The stolen plaques listed Ansonia residents who served in World War II and Vietnam.
Finally, two plaques honoring Frank P. Witek were pried from a monument in Derby, where Witek was born and raised. A private in the Marines, he was killed Aug. 3, 1944, in a battle on Guam while defending the rest of his platoon from enemy fire. For his exceptional bravery, Witek was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
There seems little doubt some of the plaques, if not all, were stolen for their value as scrap metal. The plaques that were on the Witek memorial weigh about 100 pounds each.
No reputable scrap dealer would accept these plaques. Instead, they should immediately inform the police if they are offered for sale. The plaques commemorate an important part of the Valley’s history.
The veterans’ record of service to their country will never be forgotten; and, these memorials to that service must not be treated as junk to be melted down.