Like the rest of the Natchez community, I was stunned the morning of Oct. 24 when I came to work and saw our beautiful Natchez National Cemetery had been vandalized.

I clearly remember being greeted by the historical bronze plaque on the front gatepost on my first day as the assistant cemetery director over three months ago. And now I will remember the sadness I felt when I discovered our cemetery had been vandalized. 

The historical bronze plaque graced the entrance to the Natchez National Cemetery since 1930. The plaque was stolen for reasons unknown. It may fetch some small amount of money as scrap metal, but for us and the veterans who are interred at this national shrine and their families, the plaque holds tremendous significance. More importantly, it is irreplaceable. 

This cemetery has been a part of the Natchez community since 1866, carrying out our nation’s sacred mission of memorializing our war dead and maintaining their final resting place with dignity and respect in perpetuity.

Our team cares for over 8,610 veterans and their families. You may know Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Landsman Wilson Brown is interred at the Natchez National Cemetery. Or you may know a family member or neighbor whose final resting place is here along the bluff of the Mississippi River. 

For over 150 years, Natchez National Cemetery has been a point of pride in our community. Sadly, our historical integrity took a hit last month. The plaque can be replaced, but it will not be the same.  Therefore, I ask that the person(s) responsible for this vandalism or someone who knows where the plaque may be — out of respect for our veterans and community — please return the plaque to its rightful place, the front gate of our Veterans Cemetery. 

Robert Winkler,

assistant director Natchez National Cemetery