One of the smaller monuments on Celebration Plaza was toppled and damaged Monday evening.
A juvenile was taken into custody for criminal mischief in connection with the damage and has been turned over to juvenile probation authorities, according to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson.
The damaged monument was located on the square directly in front of Hopkins County Courthouse between the Little Free Library and Jefferson-Church Street intersection. The stone formation was a project of the late Robert Carpenter and honored the 49th Armored Division of the Army National Guard, according to Hopkins County Veterans Memorial Chair Pam Elliott.
The veterans memorial group plans to replace the monument, which is estimated to take $10,000-$15,000 to replace. However, community help is needed to ensure all names are replicated on the stone tribute.
When the monument toppled from its base, it broke mostly into large pieces, on which names are legible. However, there are a few names in the middle of the display where the rock was shattered, destroying the names.
Initially, photos with the names were requested to ensure no one is missed when the monument is replaced. However, Elliott Wednesday morning said the company that engraved the names on the monument had been contacted and it is believed the list can be recreated from their files.
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