Letter: Atomic veterans’ project suffers theft, vandalism

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:31 a.m.

The major items stolen included a 1967 Chevy Blazer, a 24 kw generator, a travel trailer valued at more than $7,000, a 20-foot tandem flatbed trailer, a large meeting tent and all the tools and construction materials that had been stockpiled for future projects. Two other travel trailers, one belonging to the Franciscan Friars, were severely vandalized and a mobile home that was to have been the headquarters and office was pushed off its foundation and destroyed. The total loss is estimated at more than $35,000, none of which is covered by insurance.

AAV founding director Anthony Guarisco was deeply upset at the discovery. "This action destroyed four years of work by our members," he said. "We were preparing to host 16 guests from Japan in less than a month, now we have only the land to show them. Everything of value that could be moved was stolen and everything else was destroyed. We will rebuild, and next time we will have a permanent caretaker, however hard the winter."

Charlie Hilfenhaus