MEMPHIS, Tenn. — VFW Post Commander Cassandra Williams walked WREG through the disheartening disaster on Tuesday just days after police said the post on Elvis Presley was vandalized Sunday night.
“This is where one of our TVs was mounted and as you can see it was ripped from the walls,” said Williams.
Police said 24-year-old Prentiss Gleeton is responsible.
Cops said Gleeton entered the post through the roof, then came down and wrecked havoc.
He allegedly tossed tables and even stole thousands of dollars in electronics and other simple items like paper towels.
As Williams showed WREG’s Shay Arthur around it was hard to find something not damaged.
“They kicked the door in so it can’t be opened further,” she said.
Perhaps the worst blow, Gleeton left behind a layer of white dust.
It’s residue from fire extinguishers that now blankets nearly everything in the building.
One estimate to clean it up was $9,000.
“This was pure vandalism, pure meanness,” said Gene Cummings. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”
Cummings, a Vietnam vet, has been with the post more than 20 years.
He said it’s a place to go for vets to talk and find solace, but Williams said they help the community too.
Less than half a mile away, Police said they spotted the culprit, Gleeton, at the Warren Apartments off Clementine.
They said he had the stolen property in his car, but he told police he didn’t know where the property came from or who it belonged to.
The non-profit got some of the stolen items back and they have insurance.
Williams said that doesn’t begin to cover the money needed to make repairs, but said the post would get through it.
“We’re soldiers, and we’re sailors and Marines. We’ll come back stronger and harder,” she said. “That’s what we do. We don’t give up. We’ve never given up so this is not going to stop us.”
If you would like to help the VFW out you can donate to their location at 2600 Elvis Presley Boulevard.
