LONGVIEW, Wash. – Thieves stole the monument of an Afghan War soldier, along with eight others from Lake Sacajawea Park over the weekend.
Mikayla Bragg served in Afghanistan and took her own life in that country in December 2011.
The city of Longview honored her service with a plaque that was dedicated in April 2012. The touching ceremony included poetry, prayers, eulogies and the singing of the national anthem by the Mark Morris High choir, according a report in the Longview Daily News.
The memorial plaque reads:
"The city of Longview honors the life of Mikayla "Kayla" Anne Bragg. A motor transport operator for the Third Brigade Combat Team, First Infantry Division of the U.S. Army serving in Afghanistan, and recognize her courage, devotion and unselfish sacrifice to our nation. June 9, 1990 - December 21, 2011."
Her father Steve Bragg has been circulating images of the plaque via social media, hoping to find what he suspects were scrap metal thieves.
"Whoever did this is the pond scum at the bottom of the earth," he told the Daily News.
The move comes after a sudden jump in overseas duty for the service's armored units after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Congress wants to see a boost in U.S. military presence through permanent basing and rotational deployment as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.
It's not every day that a butterfly enthusiast gets an M4A1. But Monday was that day.
Some 6,000 people, including Navy, Army and Air Force families, suffered nausea, headaches, rashes and other symptoms.
Some of the highest concentrations of PFAS chemicals in the country have been found at and around military bases.
Officials are optimistic the sweeping veterans bill will be finalized by Congress sometime next month.
Extremist groups are shifting toward a more militia-style environment, targeting veterans for recruitment, valuing their skills and preying on their patriotism.
President Joe Biden welcomed members of the Wounded Warrior Project to the White House for the group's annual solider ride.
Lawmakers also plan to reclassify some VA spending to make it easier to balance future budgets.
Advocates say racial inequality in access to veterans benefits can upend the lives of Black people who proudly served their country.
The governor of Okinawa is calling for further reduction of the U.S. military presence there amid growing fear of regional military tension.
The aid is part of the $40 billion in security and economic assistance passed last month by Congress.
One major concern is how military retirees overseas will get their mail-order medications through Tricare Express Scripts.
The $16 billion project has faced numerous setbacks in recent years.
Despite hours of sometimes intense debate, the measure advanced out of committee on a bipartisan 57-1 vote.
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