some of the headstones. >> this is the [ indiscernible ] of metuchen and he is my great-grandmother mable's great-great-grandfather's second cousin. >> reporter: evelyn grant was walking through the cemetery gray stones knocked down some of which the historical society had just restored. this tombstone from 1806 was literally ripped out of the ground and others date back further. >> i can't wrap my head around the fact that somebody would just destroy something that's been here for 200-plus years. >> reporter: more than 60 revolutionary war veterans are buried here. >> it takes a lot to shock me. but when i saw this, to desecrate freedom? >> reporter: 90-year-old martin questions the lack of respect. >> people don't seem to be interested in old things as much as they used to. >> reporter: walter put up a fake camera when someone kept stealing the american flag from the cemetery. now he wishes it was real. >> you need to understand what freedom costs. and that these people are long gone but there's people now that defend your freedom and give you the right to do >> reporter: police n