By Keith Gushard
Meadville Tribune
VERNON TOWNSHIP — American Legion Post 111 will coordinate pledges of rewards to find who has been vandalizing the grave of Cpl. Timothy Lauer, who was killed in action in Iraq three years ago.
Bob Donahue, vice commander of Post 111 of Meadville, said Thursday it will coordinate pledge efforts.
“We just want pledges now,” Donahue said. “We’ll make contact with people later (for the money), after it’s to be awarded.”
Pledges may be made between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily by contacting American Legion Post 111 at 333-8782. Persons pledging will be asked to provide their name, address and phone number, he said.
Cpl. Lauer’s gravesite in Cochranton Cemetery was vandalized twice within a week. His headstone was found marred with white paint on Veterans Day. Then, over the weekend, somebody took decorations from the grave placed there by Lauer’s widow, Valerie, after the stone had been cleaned.
Community outrage over the incidents has spawned multiple pledges of rewards for information leading to an arrest and prosecution in the case.
The reward pledges had grown to at least $3,000 Thursday with the addition of another $250.
Masonic Lodge 790 of Cochranton has pledged $100 to the fund.
The lodge’s membership voted to make the contribution at a recent meeting, citing the local Masons’ strong military background and close ties to the Cochranton community, according to lodge member Anthony Lemanski.
Local 515 of the International Association of Fire Fighters has pledged $150 to the fund, said Chris Gillingham of the firemen’s union.
“It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “We want to do anything we can do to bring people to justice for this despicable act.”
Donahue said if no reward payment was to be made because no one had been caught, American Legion Post 111, Sons of American Legion Post 111 and American Legion 111 Auxiliary would donate their pledges of $250 each to the Cpl. Timothy Lauer Scholarship Fund.
“That would only happen after a lengthy period of time had past,” said Donahue.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
Breakout box
You can pledge
Pledges toward the Cpl. Timothy Lauer gravesite vandalism reward fund may be made daily between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. by contacting American Legion Post 111 of Meadville at 333-8782.
Money is not being accepted at this time, only pledges, said Bob Donahue, vice commander of American Legion Post 111.
Persons pledging will be asked to provide their name, address and phone number, he said.
