CINCINNATI, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Food for poor veterans and Bibles intended for grieving families were stolen from a Cincinnati American Legion Post on Veterans Day, post officials said.
A thief or thieves also made off with six ceremonial rifles, worth $15,000, used at veterans' funerals, and $1,500 in cash, liquor and rifle rounds, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Saturday.
"This just really makes me feel so disrespected," said Rick Evans, a Vietnam-era veteran who is commander of American Legion Post 0744 in the Hyde Park/Mount Lookout area. "You break into my house, well, that would make me mad. But to me, this is hallowed ground."
The post insurance policy has a $2,500 deductible, he said.
Evans said he had taken out the trash at the post Tuesday night and when he returned Thursday -- the day after Veterans Day -- he discovered the one-time schoolhouse had been burglarized.
Like other American Legion posts, it has struggled because of declining attendance among veterans.
"We were living month to month," Evans said.
