On the Churches Facebook page the church posted :
Heartbroken by the desecration of some 50 gravestones at the historic Wyckoff Reformed Church Cemetery, Peter Cantilina, US Army veteran of the Korean War, is hopeful the community will come together to identify those responsible as well as to assist with restoration of markers dating back to the Civil War. Damage to the cemetery, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
New Jersey State Detective Agency investigators, working with Wyckoff Cemetery Association administrators and local police, have donated a toll free anonymous tip line, 877-688-7162 to receive information.
Those wishing to assist with the restoration of the tombstones may make contributions to Go Fund Me “Wyckoff Cemetery Vandalism,” (https://www.gofundme.com/wrccemetery) or to the Wyckoff Reformed Church, 580 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481, or may call 201-891-1782 for further information.
Meanwhile, Cemetery Association Vice President Richard Lynch said, “We also are asking for prayers for those who committed this very sad and senseless destruction.”
A message from The WRC Cemetery Association:
On Sunday night our cemetery was badly vandalized. The heartbreaking damage was discovered while Cemetery Board members Nancy Mattera and Rich Lynch were walking the cemetery with a contractor to plan further beautification work.
About 50 historic limestone headstones, most from burials in the 1800s, were toppled over and many were badly cracked. All the damage was between our historic 1806 sanctuary and Everett Avenue where the vandals were out of view from Wyckoff Avenue.
Please be reassured that any headstones from burials in the last 100 years were not damaged. No 20th century granite headstones were damaged.
The crime is under investigation by the Wyckoff Police who issued a press release Wednesday which was immediately picked up by Wyckoff Patch and other news outlets. An online article appeared in the Daily Voice with photos of Pastor Andy viewing the destruction. Channel 2 (CBS), Channel 7 (ABC) and Channel 12 were there to film for airing today. There was an article in Thursday’s Record.
As of Wednesday night there were 200 posts on Wyckoff Moms responding to an entry by Nancy offering assistance, and expressing sympathy and outrage at this destruction to “a local treasure”.
The Cemetery Trustees are meeting in an emergency session to consider further action to identify those responsible for this mindless desecration of hallowed ground honoring those who came before us, take further security measures to prevent future vandalism and plan for the restoration of the damage. Sadly, much of the good work over the past 15 years by WRC volunteers, Eagle Scouts, and intensive recent work by a monument company does not equal the damage done in a one night rampage. Be assured the damage will be repaired. We are getting an estimate of the cost of repairs which will run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
The headstones may not look the same after repair but it will be clear that we care about our honored dead.
We will keep you informed as we progress and advise those interested in lending a hand how they may help.
Pray for the misguided souls who carried out this destruction that it may be a lesson to them and others on how to conduct themselves in the future.
~The WRC Cemetery Board of Trustees
