This past weekend I returned to my hometown of Austin from northern Minnesota for a family reunion. The first thing I always do when I arrive in Austin is to go to visit my mother’s gravesite. Because I would not be in Austin for Memorial Day I mailed to my brother two weeks prior a vase that I handmade and painted to be placed on our mother’s faceplate. He had taken pictures to show me that he had placed it there with flowers in it but when I went there on Saturday the vase was gone and the flowers thrown to the ground. I just do not understand how some people could be so disrespectful. I would have never dreamed something like that would happen. We we are always taught to be respectful of others and even the deceased, we would never walk over a grave nor would we take something that was not ours. I am so heartbroken that an individual would steal something that has so much meaning to others. Mom has been gone a few years now but I still miss her terribly. I was looking forward to visiting her gravesite and see the vase I made filled with beautiful flowers. My Aunt who works with the Austin police department explained to me unfortunately this sort of thing happens quite often out at the graves. It is a disgrace! Cameras should be placed out in the graveyards to catch the culprits and they should be held accountable for their disgraceful actions.

Machelle Pereira

Bemidji, Minn.