Fallen Marine Medals Stolen: Break-In At Marine Widow’s Home Leaves Jewelry, Medals Stolen

A fallen Marine had his medals stolen after a break-in at his widow’s home in North Carolina. According to Fox News, Christopher Bordoni, 21, died in April 2012 after being wounded in Afghanistan. He is buried in Ithaca, New York, where his parents reside. The U.S. Marine was awarded a Purple Heart and Achievement Medal with Valor, both of which were stolen during a home burglary on Wednesday.

According to WHAM, the medals were only two of the things stolen from the home. The thief or thieves also took Christmas presents, jewelry, and clothes. It’s unknown how many items were taken from the home, but it is clear that the medals were the most sentimental.

The fallen Marine’s medals that were stolen aren’t worth much if the thief were to sell them. However, these medals mean a lot to Bordoni’s family and represent his service, sacrifice and loyalty to the United States. It is illegal to sell a Purple Heart medal (per the Stolen Valor Act of 2005), which is something that the thief may not even realize.

According to Wikipedia, a Purple Heart is given to a military man or woman who is wounded or killed while serving the country.

“The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917, has been wounded or killed. Specific examples of services which warrant the Purple Heart include any action against an enemy of the United States.”

The Achievement Medal is given out to recognize “outstanding achievement” in the military.

“The Achievement Medal is awarded for outstanding achievement or meritorious service not of a nature that would otherwise warrant awarding the Commendation Medal.”

The stolen medals meant a lot to the fallen marine’s family, which many military families can understand first-hand. In an earlier report by the Inquisitr, a “bored teen” decided to destroy a Purple Heart medal over the summer. The boy filmed the act and posted the video on YouTube. One response from a veteran got more attention than the video itself.

“While I disagree wholeheartedly with what you’ve done, it is your right to do that because veterans have secured your right. Go ahead and hang your flag upside down if you choose, I’ll look you square in the eye and say, ‘You’re welcome.’ You may not understand what freedom really is, but you enjoy it every day because of the sacrifice of men and women who have sworn to protect and defend this nation. While the medal may be a piece of brass to you, to a lot of others it has so much more meaning behind it, be it one issued to a veteran or a surplus item. Those people telling you their opinion are exercising the same rights you’ve exercised. Those personal attacks are exactly the same way they feel about you destroying the medal. Everything is relative, just keep that in mind and enjoy the freedom men and women are securing for you every single day.”

[Photo courtesy of Lance Cpl. Jeffrey A. Cosola via Wikimedia Commons]