Vandals Take Out Another Memorial In Great Falls; Now Lions Park

If you are like so many of us in Great Falls, you like to go down and spend time at Lion's Park.

While there, you may have seen a tree with this memorial plaque next to it.

Cheri Luongo and her family worked with the Great Falls Lions Club to put this memorial in Lions Park after her daughter passed away in 2014.  Since that time, the memorial has become a very special place for the Luongo family.  It became a place to meet and remember and pass those memories on to new family members.

There's construction going on in the park, and the Luongo Family was sure to contact the proper authorities to make sure the tree and plaque would be safe.

Just the other day, Mrs. Luongo received a call from a family member saying that the tree was gone.

When they arrived at Lions Park, they saw that the tree had been cut down.  It appears to have been cut down by a chainsaw.  There were also tire tracks on the grass.

This is another crime in Great Falls that seems to have been done for the sole reason to intentionally hurt individuals.  People the criminal probably doesn't even know.  Remember Daddy's Garden?

I really don't understand the thinking around something like this.  At least, with the garden vandalisation, we may be able to recover the bird bath.  This tree was cut down.  It's dead and gone.  While a tree can be put in its place, it won't be the same for the Luongo Family.

If you have any information about this crime, contact the Great Falls Police Department at 406.455.8599 or fill out an online report form here.