Crime against our fallen heroes deserves a severe response

There was a time when no one would dare to desecrate a statue of an American veteran. Today, apparently, not only is it OK to desecrate a memorial — as Black Lives Matter rioters did throughout the long, hot summer of 2020 — but it’s also fine to steal one right off its pedestal. A thief — or thieves — stole a bronze statue of a US soldier kneeling in front of a battle cross — a helmet and rifle mounted in a pair of empty combat boots to honor a fallen comrade-in-arms. A life-size bronze statue of a kneeling soldier was stolen from the Paramount Armed Forces Memorial outside Paramount City Hall on Aug. 19. The statue was unveiled by the city of Paramount in November 2024. But it was stolen earlier this month, likely for the raw value of the metal, which is apparently worth $100,000 on the