MEL TOADVINE Damaged Plaque at park: Here’s an example of a vandalized memorial plaque at the base of one of the oaks at Veterans Park. This is all that is left of this plaque while others are completely destroyed.

Ernie Hartman, who has headed a project to memorialize military veterans with bronze-colored plaques at the base of oak trees in Veterans Park is angry because he says vandals are destroying the plaques that honor American veterans.

He isn’t the only one angry. Members of the service organizations in Lehigh are upset too and say people are bringing them plaques they have found while walking through the park. Gloria Bobcock of the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion, said recently that several people have found them torn up, discarded plaques thrown on the grass or in other areas of the park.

“They bring them to me, to let us know,” Babcock said.

Florence Griswold, another resident of Lehigh, said she is upset, too, about the vandalism going on at the park and would like to see something done about it.

Hartman said up to 100 oak trees have been planted along both sides of the walkways in the park to eventually bring about a canopy over the walkway to make it cooler for walkers and others who go to the park to relax.

Ernie Hartman

“We’ve had about 300 plaques under those trees and for four years without any problems and starting last year, vandals are destroying the plaques.

“There’s not much the Sheriff’s Office can do about it, not unless they see the vandalism happening,” Hartman said.

Veterans Park was dedicated in the early 90s, Hartman said. When it was first named to be a park for Lehigh, Hartman said its name was Community Park South.

“With the work of John Albion, who was our county commissioner then, we were able to have the park renamed Veterans Park to honor those who have served in America’s armed forces in times of war and peace.

“In around 1995, we began a program where families or friends of military veterans could buy the trees and a plaque,” Hartman said.

MEL TOADVINE Gloria Bobcock holds a couple of vandalized memorial plaques that people have found at Veterans Park. She is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion in Lehigh.

“The county department of recreation and parks have put sprinklers at the trees so they would survive Florida’s hot summers and winters with no rain,” he said. “They also maintain them with mulch.”

In the beginning, it cost between $100 and $125 to buy a five to six-foot oak tree and have it planted by Parks and Recreation. Now the cost has risen to $175, Hartman said.

He noted that he has a few people who have paid for trees and plaques but he has not had them planted yet for fear of vandalism. And he usually does 10 tree plantings at a time.

“It’s kids, I think, who are doing this. They don’t know anything about the service of our veterans. They have no idea of the price our soldiers have paid to keep us free,” Hartman said.

He went on to say that he didn’t believe mature adults would destroy the plaques.

MEL TOADVINE James F. Crockford Jr. was the first to be memorialized at Lehigh’s Veterans Park. He was killed in the Desert Storm war.

“That just doesn’t make any sense,” Hartman said. He had his plaque on one of the first trees and it has been destroyed while one nearby has not been touched.

“I can’t explain it. Some are torn up and thrown away; others are not touched, but it’s getting now that almost most of them have been vandalized in some way,” he said.

At the beginning of the park, a soldier who had lived in Lehigh was memorialized with a large bronze marker at the entrance of the park off off Homestead Rd.

“I believe it was on Nov. 11, 1995 when we dedicated that memorial to James F. Crockford Jr., who died Feb. 22, 1991 in Operation Desert Storm. Crockford’s grandmother was living when when we had the ceremony. Her grandson served in the Navy when he was killed,” Hartman said.

They a program was begun to plant oak trees around the close to a mile-long walkway throughout the park and in other places. Many people go to the park in the morning to walk and exercise and the oaks provide a shady area for them to walk or run.

MEL TOADVINE Undamaged Memorial plaque: Ernie Hartman shows one of the plaques that is not damaged at Veterans Park. However, many have been vandalized and Hartman is looking for a way to display the memorials so they won’t be destroyed.

Hartman said he needs help in what to do about the vandalism problem.

Already, some have suggested that a memorial wall be built and the plaques be attached to it. But Hartman wonders if that would stop the vandalism.

He said it is possible that a camera can be focussed on the wall to record any illegal activity.

Another idea, Hartman said, is to put the plaques in cement at the ground level at the base of the tree.

“In that way, the plaques would be implanted into the cement and would be much more difficult to damage except for being hit with a hammer,” he said.

“But who’s going to bring a hammer to the park to tear them up,” he asked.

Some people have suggested the names of veterans be carved into paving bricks for a walkway, similar to bricks at the East County Regional Library.

“But I don’t think people look down at the names,” he said. “I think we need something more prominent, something that will be easy to read,” he said.

Hartman said although he has overseen the project, it is actually being supported by the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 94 in Lehigh. He is also a member of the American Legion and is the chairman of the Spring Festival.

“What are we going to? I have no idea as of yet,” Hartman said, adding that he would welcome ideas from the people of Lehigh. Ideas could be sent to The Lehigh Acres Citizen, 411 Lee Blvd., in care of the editor, Hartman said.

“I can take those ideas and try to come up with something that will work.

“It just makes me very angry that there are people, young or older, who would do this to those plaques.

He said the plaques are made out of a heavy plastic material and are connected to either a wooden small four by four wood or to a piece of aluminum buried in the ground with cement.

“It looks like the vandals just come along and are breaking them off with their shoes, just kicking them off into the grass. These memorials are for our soldiers who cared enough to serve our country. Those who have torn them up should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.