Geel (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Many gathered at Larum Cemetery on All Saints’ Day to honor loved ones. Marcel Helen discovered his grandfather’s grave vandalized among eight others, prompting police involvement and community concern.
Many people gathered at the Larum cemetery to clean and decorate graves for All Saints’ Day on November 1, a day to honor loved ones who have passed away. Among them was Marcel Helen, who discovered that his grandfather’s grave had been vandalized. He had planned to restore it with his cousin in time for the holiday, hoping to make it look nice for this special occasion.
How did vandalism impact Marcel Helen’s family graves at Larum Cemetery?
Marcel Helen expressed his concern upon arriving at the cemetery, saying, “As soon as we got there, I could tell something was wrong.” He found that not only his grandfather’s grave was damaged, but other graves nearby were also vandalized. The sight of toppled headstones and broken decorations shocked Marcel and other visitors.
Eight gravestones were pushed over in the cemetery, including one that belonged to Marcel’s neighbor’s grandfather, which was destroyed. Marcel said this is very disrespectful, especially since his grandfather’s grave has been there for 55 years. He pointed out that cemeteries are where we remember our loved ones and asked who would do something like this. Marcel has reported the damage to the police, who are looking into it, but no suspects have been arrested. The police will also check the cemetery more closely in the coming weeks.
