This is just sick 
Flags torn, 115 markers tipped in Pittsburgh's largest Catholic cemetery
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_631957.html
By Jessica Turnbull
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Vandals toppled 115 headstones and ripped up American flags in Hazelwood's Calvary Cemetery, where some of Pittsburgh's noted political, sports, religious and arts figures are buried, causing an estimated tens of thousands of dollars damage.
The vandalism discovered Wednesday morning was the worst in the history of the Catholic Cemeteries Association, which oversees 16 cemeteries for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, said Annabelle McGannon, the association's executive director.
"We're sick about it," McGannon said. "We realize better than anyone the impact it has on the families. ... It's just a senseless thing. It's hard to believe people get any entertainment out of this."
Rows of headstones, most weighing at least one ton, were found facedown along one of the five miles of cemetery roads. Even some bases were tipped over, and American flags were pulled from the ground and strewn about.
A stone angel lay on the grass, cracked into pieces.
"This marker's been here 50 years, and now look at it," said Lawrence Domencic, director of cemetery operations. "It's such a shame."
The vandalism occurred during the night, even though the cemetery gates were locked, Domencic said.
Calvary Cemetery was established in 1886. With more than 200 acres, it is the city's largest Catholic cemetery.
More than 146,000 people are buried there, including former Mayors David L. Lawrence, Richard Caliguiri and Bob O'Connor; politician John J. Kane, for whom Allegheny County's nursing homes are named; actor Frank Gorshin, who portrayed The Riddler on the TV series "Batman," the city's ninth Catholic bishop, Vincent Leonard; boxing champions Billy Conn and Harry Greb, hockey player Herbert Drury and several professional baseball players; American painter John Kane; poet Patricia Dobler and jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams.
None of their gravestones was damaged.
Domencic said similar vandalism occurred before, in other Catholic cemeteries, but not to this extent and not recently. In his 15 years at Calvary, he cannot remember damage of this extent, he said.
McGannon said the sections of cemetery affected include one of its oldest, dating to the late 1800s, and a section where burials began in 2000.
Cemetery workers will reset fallen headstones, but families are responsible for the cost of fixing damaged headstones. That expense might be covered by homeowner's insurance, McGannon said. The association will post pictures of damaged headstones on its Web site for families to identify.
Pittsburgh police are investigating, and have no leads, said Sgt. Brian Elledge of the Zone 4 station in Squirrel Hill.
Domencic said he's hopeful someone will provide police information about the vandals.
"They were showing utter disgrace for the final resting place of others," he said. " ... For the Catholic Church, there are two sacred places: the church and the cemetery. They've desecrated a sacred place."
Flags torn, 115 markers tipped in Pittsburgh's largest Catholic cemetery
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_631957.html
By Jessica Turnbull
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Vandals toppled 115 headstones and ripped up American flags in Hazelwood's Calvary Cemetery, where some of Pittsburgh's noted political, sports, religious and arts figures are buried, causing an estimated tens of thousands of dollars damage.
The vandalism discovered Wednesday morning was the worst in the history of the Catholic Cemeteries Association, which oversees 16 cemeteries for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, said Annabelle McGannon, the association's executive director.
"We're sick about it," McGannon said. "We realize better than anyone the impact it has on the families. ... It's just a senseless thing. It's hard to believe people get any entertainment out of this."
Rows of headstones, most weighing at least one ton, were found facedown along one of the five miles of cemetery roads. Even some bases were tipped over, and American flags were pulled from the ground and strewn about.
A stone angel lay on the grass, cracked into pieces.
"This marker's been here 50 years, and now look at it," said Lawrence Domencic, director of cemetery operations. "It's such a shame."
The vandalism occurred during the night, even though the cemetery gates were locked, Domencic said.
Calvary Cemetery was established in 1886. With more than 200 acres, it is the city's largest Catholic cemetery.
More than 146,000 people are buried there, including former Mayors David L. Lawrence, Richard Caliguiri and Bob O'Connor; politician John J. Kane, for whom Allegheny County's nursing homes are named; actor Frank Gorshin, who portrayed The Riddler on the TV series "Batman," the city's ninth Catholic bishop, Vincent Leonard; boxing champions Billy Conn and Harry Greb, hockey player Herbert Drury and several professional baseball players; American painter John Kane; poet Patricia Dobler and jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams.
None of their gravestones was damaged.
Domencic said similar vandalism occurred before, in other Catholic cemeteries, but not to this extent and not recently. In his 15 years at Calvary, he cannot remember damage of this extent, he said.
McGannon said the sections of cemetery affected include one of its oldest, dating to the late 1800s, and a section where burials began in 2000.
Cemetery workers will reset fallen headstones, but families are responsible for the cost of fixing damaged headstones. That expense might be covered by homeowner's insurance, McGannon said. The association will post pictures of damaged headstones on its Web site for families to identify.
Pittsburgh police are investigating, and have no leads, said Sgt. Brian Elledge of the Zone 4 station in Squirrel Hill.
Domencic said he's hopeful someone will provide police information about the vandals.
"They were showing utter disgrace for the final resting place of others," he said. " ... For the Catholic Church, there are two sacred places: the church and the cemetery. They've desecrated a sacred place."
