Memorial Day ceremony to be held at site of vandalized statue in Paramount
Memorial Day ceremony to be held at site of vandalized statue in Paramount
PARAMOUNT — The Paramount Elks Club’s annual “Honoring & Remembering” Memorial Day ceremony will be held Monday at Veterans Memorial Plaza in the Civic Center, where a statue was recently vandalized.
The hourlong ceremony is set to begin at 10 a.m. and include a roll call of deceased veterans, recognition of veterans, the playing of taps and a wreath laying.
Refreshments will be available at the Elks Club following the ceremony.
Statue dedicated to veterans vandalized in Paramount ahead of Memorial Dayhttps://t.co/TSqo9dXKXR
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) May 24, 2025
Some pieces of the “Battlefield Cross and Soldier” were sawed off and stolen, broadcast reports said.
Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons told NBC4 she was across the street from the statue with her granddaughter when she noticed its rifle and hat were missing.
“Shame on you for hurting the hearts of people whose hearts have already been devastated through loss,” Lemons told NBC4.
The vandalism caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage, according to NBC4.
In a statement posted on social media, the city called the vandalism, “a shameful act of disrespect to those who risked their lives protecting our country and freedoms, as this memorial stands as a symbol of honor and their sacrifice.”
Lemons told NBC4 that if the perpetrator “did this because of money, you could come to us. We have lots of programs and lots of services available to help you. You don’t have to go to these lengths and … make an emotional attack on the families of people who’ve already lost so much. They didn’t need to lose this, too.”
Anyone with information that may help identify those responsible for the vandalism was encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lakewood Station at (562) 623-3500.
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