Veterans are upset after someone stole a plaque from the front of the Marine Corps League Detachment in Brooksville.
The memorial garden at the Marine Corps League Detachment #708 is full of bricks that honor veterans from all branches of the military, both past and present.
Frank Glassford, who is the commandant of the detachment, said somebody stole the plaque, which was on a stone that marked the garden.
"It's there to honor veterans and someone dishonored themselves by taking it," he said.
Glassford said that last Tuesday, while veterans were enjoying entertainment inside the lodge, someone removed the bronze memorial plaque. The plaque commemorated Dick Voltaggio, one of the men who helped build the lodge and who served as Commandant from 2000 to 2004.
Local veterans are having a difficult time with this situation, including Marine Tom Flynn. Flynn's brother and uncle have passed away, and each of them has a brick in the memorial garden.
"It's terrible that someone would steal this," he said.
Michael Squillace, who works with Turner Funeral Homes, said he heard about what happened so the funeral home has decided to replace the plaque for free. He says it's the least they can do.
"In today's day and age nothing surprises me anymore," he said.
The generosity is much appreciated, but the sting of what happened still hurts the veterans. They say the veterans memorialized for their service and sacrifice have been disrespected by a coward.
"If they did it for money they could have come in and asked for it," Glassford said. "We would have helped them out."
The sheriff's office says the case is under investigation. If anybody has any information they should give them a call at 352-754-6830.