That's the question facing a kayaker in Allentown.
Joe Brozowski of Allentown has been kayaking the Lehigh River for years. He says that while he has seen a lot of unsavory things in the water, nothing compares to this.
"I tried to make my U-turn and I noticed all these discs scattered along the water," Brozowski told Action News.
Those discs turned out to be dozens of military veteran grave markers stolen from nearby cemeteries and simply dumped into the river.
"I didn't know what to do," Brozowski tells Action News. "I knew I had to get them out of there and back to the proper owner."
Unfortunately, that's not as easy as it may sound. The markers, some honoring veterans from as far back as the Civil War, do not carry the service member's names; only the town they were from and the conflict in which they served.
Officials from local veterans groups say grave desecration and marker thefts have been a problem in Allentown for years. Sometimes it's simply vandalism. Other times, it's thieves looking to make a quick buck off the copper, steel and aluminum used to make the markers.
Joe contacted Paul Fiske from the Lehigh Valley Veterans History Project who has been following these cases for some time now.
"They can take it to a local recycling area," Fiske said, "and sell it for profit."
These markers were found in relatively good condition, so it would seem they were dumped here recently.
Now, Joe Brozowski and Paul Fiske are working together with local authorities to find whoever is responsible.
For now though, Paul -- who is an Air Force veteran -- has a message for that person: "We served our country. We've done our duty. Many of them have given the ultimate sacrifice. Leave us alone in peace."
