Bronze grave markers stolen from Hero Cemetery in Iisalmi

Bronze grave markers honoring fallen heroes have been stolen from the Iisalmi Hero Cemetery. A total of 12 memorial crosses were reported missing, and additional crosses have been damaged. The Upper Savonia Parish Union has filed a police report for violation of burial peace and theft. Officials believe the crosses were taken over the weekend, with the incident being discovered by an employee on Monday morning.

The cemetery is home to memorial crosses for 77 fallen heroes. Sanna Komulainen, the parish priest of Iisalmi, stated in a press release that efforts will be made to restore the cemetery as close to its original state as possible. The Hero Cemetery is located near the center of Iisalmi and was established in 1918 to honor those who fell during the Liberation War. It contains 14 bronze crosses for soldiers who died between 1916 and 1918, along with 63 bronze crosses for those who fell during the Winter and Continuation Wars from 1939 to 1945.

Updates on the situation are forthcoming.