Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery is the final resting place for roughly 40,000 people, many of them veterans and people of African-American descent.
Volunteers at one of the first African-American cemeteries in Los Angeles say they are grieving the loss of pieces of
“When Black veterans came back, these two cemeteries were the only two available,” said Vietnam veteran Benjamin Walker Sr., referencing Lincoln Memorial Park and Woodlawn Celestial Gardens in Compton, which experienced similar thefts of bronze plates and plaques.
City of Compton Councilman Jonathan Bowers confirmed that similar thefts also occurred lately at Angeles Abbey Cemetery. He added that the city council is considering legislation to curb such crimes.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed an investigation, sharing that individuals steal the material to sell to recycling facilities for profit.
Rockaway Recycling says copper sells for over $3 per pound and scrap bronze for about $2.50, according to NBC.
“I would like to just send a message out there to any of the recycling companies that receive this: Do not take it,” said Bowers, NBC reported. “If you can get those people’s information, turn that in to the local law enforcement so we can apprehend and prosecute these people and hopefully end this reign of terror.”
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