ROLLING PRAIRIE — LaPorte County Police are investigating the theft of bronze markers placed at the gravesites of veterans.
Erve Schroeder, a caretaker of Rolling Prairie Cemetery, said whoever took the metal should take a good look in the mirror. ''Do you steal from the dead?'' Schroeder asked.
Sheriff's deputies were contacted Tuesday morning after two women walking the grounds discovered hand-held flags uprooted from gravesites. Missing were about a dozen bronze markers with slots on the back to hold up the flags, police said.
Schroeder said markers listing the wars the deceased veterans fought in held up flags placed at the gravesites of more than 300 veterans for Memorial Day. The 11 markers taken were all made of bronze.
Schroeder said he plans to make arrangements to replace the bronze markers valued at $45 apiece.
''To steal from the grave of a dead veteran, I don't think you can go too much lower,'' LaPorte County Councilman Rich Mrozinski, a veteran of the Vietnam War, said.
