KEY POINTS:
Neil Gedge was disgusted when he heard that bronze plaques had been stolen from war graves at Pyes Pa Cemetery.
So when he was asked to help set up temporary replacements through his business, Elliotts Funeral Services, he did not hesitate to say yes.
Seventeen white crosses now stand in place of the plaques.
Mr Gedge told the Bay of Plenty Times he felt a lot better for helping out.
A total of 23 plaques were stolen on November 9 and half were sold for scrap metal. Several were recovered, but some were too badly damaged to restore. Three men were charged in relation to the thefts and have appeared in court.
Mr Gedge said he could relate to how relatives of those who had their plaques stolen felt and wanted to make it right as fast as possible.
"I have a son that's up there and if anybody took anything off his grave I would be just ... you just don't do it," he said. "It's a final resting place. It's sacred."
Mr Gedge said his business always had crosses, as they were used for every burial.
Athol Feek, Tauranga RSA welfare officer, said he approached Mr Gedge shortly after the plaques were taken because he knew it would take a few months before the new plaques could be produced.
"We needed some identification out there, especially for the families. It's a special time and a remembrance period and to have no recognition out there would not be the done thing," he said.
Elliotts Funeral Services was willing to provide the material and labour for free, but Veterans Affairs in Wellington paid the business for the crosses regardless.
Mr Feek said the new plaques would not be available until early March and he was glad people were now able to visit the cemetery and see their loved ones recognised.
"I thought, we've got to give recognition, they can't just lie there without respect.
"So we had to have those there, it's a time of remembrance, this time of year is very powerful for a lot of people.
- Bay of Plenty Times
