Cemetery with graves of vets and a president's grandfather sees new vandalism
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Surveillance images captured a fire at the cemetery. (Fox 28)
A historic Ohio cemetery that includes the graves of war heroes, five governors and a grandfather of President George H.W. Bush has fallen victim to a rash of attacks from vandals, according to law enforcement: more than 600 damaged memorials over less than two years.
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The former president's grandfather, Samuel Bush, the humorist James Thurber and five Medal of Honor recipients -- including Civil War veteran Ovid Smith -- are buried at the Green Lawn Cemetery, southwest of downtown Columbus.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Vandals reportedly damaged Smith's grave marker over the summer. They recently smashed a monument to War of 1812 veteran and Ohio Supreme Court Justice Gustavas Swan, Fox 28 reported.
Damage to the cemetery in Ohio. (Fox 28)
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The latest round marred eight grave sites and a century-old mausoleum on Jan. 9. A security camera also showed a vandal grabbing some American flags from veterans' graves, setting the flags on fire and tossing them in some brush, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We want to catch these guys because as long as they're out there, they're still a danger to this cemetery, no matter how much we increase security," Randy Rogers, a volunteer on the cemetery's board, told Fox 28.
All in all, the damage has topped $1 million.
Investigators said the vandals likely were a group of men in their 20s, operating three at a time. Surveillance images captured one man wearing a jacket and light-colored hoodie.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Supporters have been quick to help volunteers clean up all the damage. The cemetery started a GoFundMe page which has raised more than $4,000.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for information to convict whoever is responsible for the vandalism.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.