Thread: Long Island Teen Arrested After Smashing Fallen Navy SEAL Memorial

Long Island Teen Arrested After Smashing Fallen Navy SEAL Memorial

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Screenshot20 Jul 20187An unnamed 14-year-old was arrested on Friday at approximately 3:00 a.m. after destroying Lt. Michael P. Murphy’s memorial at his namesake park in Lake Ronkonkoma.

Lieutenant Murphy was a native of Patchogue, Long Island. He served as a Navy SEAL until he was killed on June 28, 2005, in a battle between his 4-man team and over 30 Afgani fighters. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor—the first member of the Navy to receive it since the Vietnam War.


Murphy has had a destroyer named after him, as well as the aforementioned Lake Ronkonkoma-area park. In that park was placed a circular memorial stone remembering his “ultimate sacrifice for his country and our freedom.” It was this stone that the wayward teenager shattered.


Famed Lone Survivor author Marcus Lutrell served with Murphy, and called the youth a “coward” for his act of vandalism. Meanwhile, thousands have offered to donate money to have the memorial restored. Fortunately, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says those efforts will be unnecessary, as the state will pay for its replacement.


“The people of this state and this nation owe Lt. Murphy a debt of gratitude, and I personally thank him for his service,” he said.

What was a 14 year old doing out at 3:00 a.m.?

Make him do community service at Walter Reed Hospital and meet the brave military members who serve and defend this country.

Teen arrested for smashing Long Island war hero’s memorial


By GRAHAM RAYMAN

| NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |

JUL 20, 2018 | 11:45 AM



Suffolk County police arrested a 14-year-old boy for shattering a circular stone memorial dedicated to Michael P. Murphy in Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island, on Friday. (Suffolk County Police Department)






A Long Island teenager was busted for shattering a memorial to a Navy SEAL who was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in the Afghanistan war, authorities said.


The 14-year-old allegedly went to Lt. Michael P. Murphy Park in Lake Ronkonkoma and smashed a circular stone tribute bearing the fallen SEAL’s image and an inscription on Thursday.


Detective Lt. Michael Crowley of the Suffolk Police said the youngster picked up a heavy paving rock, climbed onto a brick wall around the memorial and smashed the stone.

He was arrested Friday about 3 a.m., on criminal mischief charges and released to his parents with a future family court date. Suffolk police withheld his name because of his age.


Murphy, a native of Patchogue, L.I., was killed in late 2005 during a battle between his four-man team and more than 30 Afghani fighters. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his courage, and his name graces the destroyer Michael Murphy. He was the first member of the Navy to be awarded the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.


“This is kind of a teaching moment for parents and educators to teach the youth about the value of these people and their sacrifice for their country and the importance of these memorials,” Crowley said.



Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy, (L) from Patchogue, New York, in Afghanistan. Murphy was killed by enemy forces during a reconnaissance mission, Operation Red Wing, June 28, 2005. (Handout/Getty Images)


Stars and Stripes reported that Marcus Lutrell, who served with Murphy and wrote about him in his book “Lone Survivor” called the teen a “coward.”


Thousands of people posted on Lutrell’s Facebook page, offering to donate money to replace the stone, but Gov. Cuomo said the state will pay for a new memorial.


“The people of this state and this nation owe Lt. Murphy a debt of gratitude, and I personally thank him for his service," Cuomo said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...720-story.html