The Kauai Veterans’ Council won’t be able to present military patches and medals to 76 veterans and their families at a Memorial Day service this Sunday in Hanapepe. Someone has stolen the awards. The Kauai Thunder Military Surplus store in
The Kauai Veterans’ Council won’t be able to present military patches and medals to 76 veterans and their families at a Memorial Day service this Sunday in Hanapepe.
Someone has stolen the awards.
The Kauai Thunder Military Surplus store in Roxy Square in Kapaa was broken into last Friday night or early Saturday morning.
Owner Adam Britto, who spent 25 years in the military, said the burglars stole the 35 patches and 27 medals he and the council had planned to present to families of veterans of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Persian Gulf.
“My heart just sank because the other stuff we can recover, but some of the families had been waiting a long time some of them have been waiting 30 or 40 years,” Britto said.
He said that he researched discharge papers provided by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs over a seven month period, finding that some veterans had never actually been awarded their medals. He dealt only with vendors who sold the actual medals, not replicas, in gathering the special awards.
“I felt a veteran deserved the best and I didn’t want to get generic ones; I wanted the real thing for them, and it took a long time,” Britto said.
The $3,800 in stolen items also includes camouflage clothing and paintball guns and accessories, he said.
“The saddest part was calling the individuals to let them know that I won’t be able to present these medals and patches Sunday,” he added.
“It was a shock to see our store upside-down, but as a veteran it brought tears to my eyes. I believe in the brotherhood very strongly and I believe families should have something to remember them by, besides just the memories,” Britto said, “It’s so sad to rob these families of a little bit of joy.”
Britto said he called the vendors this Monday to try and find replacements.
He said he hopes that by the Fourth of July the Kauai Veterans Council will be able to make the presentations.
Staff Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at mailto:kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 252).
