TRAVERSE CITY - Recently the M-16 and helmet, along with the field cross, went missing from statues at Veterans Memorial Park.
So the Grand Traverse Veterans Coalition removed the park benches and picnic tables Tuesday out of fear of even more damage.
The coalition, along with Lt. Ryan Taylor from the Traverse City Police Department, met to discuss what the coalition is hoping to do, to prevent further vandalism.
“So, it’s just sad. I mean, we so we just say we took the benches out, all the benches, all the picnic tables. They’re at my house right now. We’re going to store them for the winter, and hopefully we can get the city to put a camera down there to where it can be monitored,” says George Champlin, Grand Traverse Veterans Coalition trustee and park manager.
The coalition is looking for any information that could lead to the missing pieces, there will be a reward for the person who provides information that leads to an arrest. They have not set an exact amount as they are waiting until the missing pieces are returned.