slideshow

FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

The veterans wall was pristine. It was clean and polished. Next to the wall, flowers grew and greenery gave the scene a touch of serenity. It was Memorial Day at Tracy Park in Portsmouth, and the KIA-MIA ceremony was about to begin. Marring that scene were several construction cones, which did not fit in with the display nor the mood of the event.

Once the cones were removed, they revealed that vandals had broken the lights, and the holes where the lights used to be were now filled with debris like leaves and trash.

“I found them when I came down here this week,” said Janet Howell, one of the organizers of the event. “I had a conniption fit. Jim Saddler’s wife told me that they found one had been broken when they came down here last, but when I got here this time, I found five had been broken out.”

Howell said she will get the lights fixed.

“I’m going to get them put back like they’re supposed to be,” she said.

Howell said there is a security fund of $10,000 to handle the water and electric bills and will take care of the repairs as well.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com