Efforts are ongoing to help veterans and their families replace stolen bronze burial markers from several cemeteries in north Iowa.
The thefts took place over a period of time starting in December of 2024. Four suspects have been arrested for their involvement in the disappearance of these grave markers.
Butler County Veterans Affairs Director Thomas Heckman tells RadioOnTheGo News there were grave sites in at least four cemeteries affected in the county, from Dumont up to Greene, and says he remains busy in helping veterans and their families affected by the thefts.
“We’re replacing the markers themselves through the government and we’re working at it so that there is no cost to the veteran and their families. Right now we’ve got a few banks and a few other agencies that have come forward to say they’ll help finance if they need to have money to mount these markers back on the headstones or have the headstones repaired so that these can be put back on. Had a veteran in today that we got him his family’s plaque. We should be doing pretty good and we’re doing it so that there’s no cost to the families that lost these grave markers.”
Heckman says if you live in Butler County and were affected by the grave marker thefts, you can call his office at 319-346-6628.
