Desert veterans targeted twice in a week
Our desert veterans are being targeted by vandals.
One VFW post near Desert Hot Springs was defaced again Tuesday night.
After a string of attacks in just under a week these veterans said the post feels more like the war zones they left behind.
They had just repaired the damage from Friday’s vandalism and then Tuesday night another rock shattered a window.
Post Cmdr. George Mader said he’s had enough.
“They have all the freedoms in the world, you know? The least they can do is respect us. But obviously looking back here, they don’t,” Mader said.
They said now it feels personal.
Michael Lutz said this vandalism reminds him of how it felt when he came home from Vietnam.
“People spat at us and we were not really popular. And this brings all that back and it hurts, it really hurts,” Lutz said.
But the outpouring of support from the community is helping turn this situation around.
Smart Tech was out installing a high definition security system they donated after hearing what happened.
“We respect our veterans and we really value the safety of the community. We think it’s a terrible injustice that someone would attack a building where heroes come and congregate,” said Smart Tech Director of Marketing Selina Sullivan.
Home Depot has offered to help and some motorcycle groups plan to donate money for repairs.
“We’re really overwhelmed with how the neighborhood here is helping us and there’s a lot of people in this neighborhood that are really great people,” Mader said.
Nothing was stolen this time or the last, just rocks and shattered glass remain.
The Sheriff’s Department said they plan to step up patrols in that area.
“We deserve better than that. Everyone of these people went to war for this country are heroes and to have this done, is a slap in the face to every American veteran,” Lutz said.
All these men ask for is a place to feel safe, not under attack
This isn’t the first or second time the VFW has been vandalized.
Their sign was shot down by BB guns and rocks smashed through their office space.
Veterans said they hope their new cameras catch whoever it is if they try to come back again.
