By William Tauro
A Facebook post that was posted on Monday has now gone viral on the Internet. A good samaritan who witnessed two alleged vandals defacing a grave in Somerville at the Somerville Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
According to his Facebook post he also witnessed one of the vandals urinating on four cemetery flags that they pulled from a grave at the cemetery before leaving the scene. The good samaritan then followed the alleged vandals and got an opportunity to grab a few photographs.
Read the following Facebook post that was posted: I witnessed something today that outraged me! I was driving down Broadway in Somerville. I stopped behind a bus waiting to pull into Clarendon Station. I looked over to my right and saw young people (early to mid 20’s) go into the Somerville Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
As they approached the statue, I saw them grab the 3 or 4 mini flags that were placed in from of the statue. The guy took the flags and tossed them behind the statue. What I saw him do next pushed me to a point where I said to myself “ENOUGH”.
The guy started urinating on the flags. I quickly pulled over, got out of my car and headed over to them. The girl was standing by the gate (she must have been the look out). I started yelling at them to stop, asking him as I approached ‘what the hell he was doing’. He stopped urinating, pulled up his pants and started walking out of the memorial.
Both of them walked up Broadway laughing. I walked behind them for awhile telling everyone I pass what they did. I went back to the memorial to see what damage was done (see photo). An older gentleman came over and thanked me for taking a stand. He told me he has 2 friends buried there.
Still outraged, I felt I needed to do more. So I got back in my car and drove up Broadway (toward Telle Sq) to see if I could find them. I wanted photos of them. I saw them walking up Broadway. I pull over across the street and waited for them to catch up.
They were across the street and I snapped a few photos from my car (see attached photos).
What possible reason could they have for desecrating a WW2 Memorial? There are consequences for our actions. They probably thought no one would do anything. They were WRONG!
UPDATE… After reviewing over 800 comments I understand everyone’s outrage but do not condone taking action into your own hands. I fully intend to file a report with the police and share all information that I have.
Taking action into your own hands will only distract from what they did. Don’t give them anything to use in their favor. Thank you.
Nice “reporting”
You copied and pasted some rando’s Facebook post with some pretty serious accusations and that’s it? You’re not even gonna ask the guy some questions? Is it convenient that this happened on 9/10 no one would dare call dude out or they get called unpatriotic by that chooch Ruth up there who’s to stupid up wonder why he tagged 10 other real estate agents that weren’t even with him at the time. Hmmmm why is that? Oh cuz the shit went viral and now he’s getting shares and likes for his “unwavering heroism” and his business is linked to all of it. Fucking scumbag. George is the unpatriotic one. Using 9/11 and some hapless hipster who happened to be walking by for a fucking MARKETING BOOST. All you people eating this up are cows and fucking complicit. I hope that kid in the picture gets a lawyer and sues the fuck out of every site that reposted this story and destroys George.
It is not real clear if the event occurred. If it did, it is revolting, disgusting, and just stupid. Not being from Somerville, I googled the scene. Unless the people of Somerville drive at about 3 mph The scene would have been very hard to see as allegedly observed. Also unless the alleged perpetrator is a horse, that seems to be an awful lot of urine. I did see the George Gatteny interviewed for local TV, and he did seem to be sincere. But the story accompanying the video clip had him following them to what seemed to be where they lived. The Facebook post has him driving after them. The story and the distances just don’t add up.
Looking at the picture of the front of the Memorial with the statue. The whole bottom sure looks wet . Seems like a sprinkler more than a mad urinator. Both the left front and right front bottom are soaked too.
Do you really think someone would make this up are these your friends is that why you think its ok? Their Graves of men and women who died so you could have freedom if you don’t respect them. I FOR ONE WILL NOT FEEL BAD IF YOU LEAVE THIS COUNTY I’M SURE WE COULD COME OPEN WITH FUNDS TO SEND YOU ON A ONE WAY TICKET TO ANY COUNTRY OF YOUR CHOICE!!!!?
What “Ghetto Justice” is Just a thought talking about. All I read is that people want these two brought to justice under our court system, plain and simple.
Other than public urination there’s not much to charge them with – didn’t damage anything – someone just needs to put the flags back in. It’s more a symbolic FU thing they did. I’d throw whatever book they can at them, and then give them the option to instead go visit a few veterans at their houses & hash things out over dinners. That’d go a lot further toward changing their ways than the “ghetto justice” proposed above – might even save a bunch of lives.
This is Somerville. Light slap on wrist and freedom of expression. Proper respect for the flag is slowly being dishonored. In my house we boycott and do not not watch or purchase anything from any sports teal that disrespects the flag. I can’t say pub;ic;y what the punishment should be for these people.
Good detective work. I hope they are prosecuted and if found guilty that their sentence includes repairing and improving the cemetery with their own hands. Also that they be made to face the relatives and learn the stories and see the pictures of each and every person whose grave they desecrated.
Apparently they were identified and caught, yes?
See something .. Say something. Well done, I was angry reading what was witnessed and am thrilled identification has been made.
A brave American. Thank you. And God Bless you
Steve Keenan, just tweeted this to Joe Curtatone. 🤞🏻that he and the City do something about this. I am ready, willing and able to join in on any sort of Justice……
I call upon Mayor Curtatone and the Board of Aldermen to pass a resolution condemning the desecration of this cemetery and our flag. These “people” are bottom feeders.
Arthur,
Please prosecute these lowlife degenerates. I will help you in any way I can. What a thing to read about on the 17th anniversary of 9/11. You are a great man and a great citizen, Arthur. You got involved!!
They have also been caught shoplifting at CVS,so they probably have warrants,too…drugs?? IDK
When were they caught shoplifting? Was it in Sommervile? What are their names?
They live at 4 Dickson St off of Broadway near Teele Sq…at the corner, landlord talked to me personally..she’s not happy
They live at 4 Dickson St off Broadway,at the corner House… I witnessed the Girl,and the blonde guy go in there… I even rang their bell a couple hours later, just to confirm what I saw…yup it’s them
Arthur, I commend you for your detective work. Good to know where they live. Hopefully, they get evicted over this.