MARION - Vandals struck Maplewood Cemetery in Marion last weekend. City sexton Robert Connell reported Tuesday that 54 monuments were spotted toppled not long after he arrived for work, resulting in varying degrees of damage to each grave marker.

"I was actually meeting with a representative of Reynolds Monument Co. when the rep noticed some of the monuments had been knocked over," Connell said. "None appear to be broken, but all have been knocked off their sealed base."

Connell said he informed City Commissioner Gary Turnbull, whose duties include overseeing the cemetery. Turnbull, after conferring with Mayor Bob Butler, told Connell to seek bids from local monument companies in order to have repairs made before Memorial Day weekend.

"It's very disturbing news," Turnbull said. "Cemeteries are places where people go to visit their loved ones. Most of us view cemeteries as hallowed ground. For anyone to go there and do the kind of damage that was done is unspeakable."

Turnbull said a $1,000 reward has been posted by the city for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the guilty party.

He said repairing the monuments will cost about $3,000, but despite the cost, the city will act quickly to resolve the problem.

"This act just shows a total disrespect for the families that are affected," he said.

Marion Police Chief Ron Swafford said he can't recall the last time there had been damage done at a cemetery in the city.

"It's been quite a while," he said. "Any type of vandalism, though, is very disturbing, whether it's at a cemetery or elsewhere."

Connell said he's worked at the cemetery for the last 30 years and can't ever recall any serious vandalism at either Rose Hill or Maplewood cemeteries, which are separated by Illinois 37.

"Nothing of this magnitude," he said. "Most of the damage was done on the northwest end of Maplewood. Whoever did the damage was here for a while. Those monuments are heavy. They don't get knocked over that easily. I just don't understand how someone would derive any joy out of desecrating a cemetery."

john.homan@thesouthern.com

351-5805