Vandalism At Cemetery Includes Civil War Graves

Woonsocket, Rhode Island, police are investigating extensive damage to about 90 head stones at historic
Oak Hill Cemetery that occurred sometime Wednesday or Thursday, leaving some stones toppled and others broken. Estimates for repairs exceed $100,000.

Among those damaged are the graves for three Union soldiers: Samuel Preston, Rudolf Carpenter and Joel Crocker. Woonsocket sent more soldiers to the Civil War than any other community in the state, according to one historian. The stones were still marked with small American flags placed in the cemetery for Memorial Day.

By Linda Wheeler  |  June 5, 2009; 12:35 PM ET
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