Community Raises Funds to Restore Vandalized Southampton Cemeteries

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — After vandals knocked over and defaced more than 30 headstones at two cemeteries in Southampton over Labor Day weekend, the community rallied to help restore the final resting places.

According to Dominick Abbate, funeral director at Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton, the headstones were vandalized at both Southampton Cemetery and Sacred Heart Cemetery.

"Some were really old. It was a really terrible thing, very traumatic. We had a funeral the day after it happened and we saw it firsthand," Abbate said.

Viewing the destruction, Abbate knew he had to do something to help.

To that end, he kicked off a GoFundMe campaign, "Cemetery Vandalism Restoration," which has raised $1,020 of its $1,000 goal already.

Donations, which are still being accepted, will help to defray costs of equipment used to upright the monuments, which are very heavy and weigh up to 400 lbs. or more, as well as to repair damage, Abbate said. Special equipment is needed to lift the stones that were knocked down, he said.

But despite the darkness of the act, Abbate said the response from the community has been uplifting and overwhelmingly positive. "It's been really, really great," he said. "Everyone has come together, which is nice."

Abbate those who opened their hearts to help, on the GoFundMe page:

"In only three days this campaign has incredibly surpassed our goal, but this was not only about financial assistance. As of today our page has been visited 1,007 times, shared on FaceBook 153 times with countless comments of support and encouragement," he wrote. "That is what this campaign has been about from the start.

"The outpouring of support and care from the community has been remarkable and we did this together, turning a tragic event into something positive. In speaking with both cemeteries, they express their gratitude for all the donations which will be allocated to reimburse equipment used and costs that remain. . . We thank Alan E. Fricke Memorial, O'Connell Funeral Home, the donors of this campaign and everyone in our community for their support and generosity."

Donations are still being accepted, to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

Photos courtesy of Dominick Abbate.