Operation "Cemetery Sting" - Illegal to sell items.

For many years veteran grave markers, many of them made of bronze, have been taken off of graves and are being sold... on Ebay, in antique shops or flea markets and yard sales. 

Since it is hard to know how the seller has acquired such markers Ebay, one of the largest online sellers, has a rules in place on this subject.
EBay policy states that they are:

“…against cemetery theft and vandalism of our countries cemeteries and therefore prohibit the sale of such items…” 

A cemetery flag holder being sold for $30.00

 This GAR edition flag holder which commemorates the nation's 1776 founding, was found for sale in a New Hampshire antique shop. 

The sale of this item would result in a Class B Felony... the purchaser could be charged with receiving stolen merchandise.

Brand new cast bronze veteran's flag holder's can be purchased legally from online retailers for as little as $33.95. Lightweight plastic versions are found for under $15.00.

Individual states also have statuettes on the removal of cemetery items.

Found on Ebay and is a misdemeanor to sell.

The State of New Hampshire has an RSA's regarding cemeteries:

635:7 Unlawful Possession or Sale of Gravestones and Gravesite Items. – No person shall possess or sell, offer for sale or attempt to sell, or transfer or dispose of any monument, gravestone, marker, or other structure, or any portion or fragment thereof, placed or designed for a memorial of the dead, or any fence, railing, gate, plot delineator, or curb, knowing or having reasonable cause to know that it has been unlawfully removed from a cemetery or burial ground
 

 During the writing of this blog, this marker was found listed on Ebay, starting bid is $111.11
 GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC GRAVE MARKER CIVIL WAR CAST IRON 1861-1865 US SOLDIER

 Ebay has been notified of this sale.

On 29 May 2003 President Bush signed into law S. 330, the Veterans' Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act of 2003" (Public Law108-29). 

This legislation amended Title 18 of the United States Code to make it a federal felony to "injure or destroy . . . any structure, plaque, statue, or other monument on public property commemorating the service of any person . . .in the armed forces of the United States. . ."

Seller beware The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and The Sons of Spanish American War Veterans have set up committees to keep a watchful eye on online for these markers. These groups also canvas antique shops, flea markets and pawn shops looking for the markers.

Click Here  for a recent story dealing with an arrest on just this subject.