A recently erected statue in Detroit's Rouge Park, honoring local World War II hero and Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, has been reported stolen. Detroit police announced the missing statue yesterday, believing it was taken overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, said the Detroit Free Press. A moving truck is suspected to have been used in the theft of the life-size sculpture, commemorating one of the first African American military pilots in the nation.
Jefferson, who passed away in June 2022 at the age of 100, was a Detroit native and one of the last surviving members of the Detroit chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, which he helped establish, according to CBS News Detroit. The statue was unveiled this past June, two years after Jefferson's death, in Rouge Park, a location significant to the late aviator who was known to fly model airplanes there as a child. Such an act of theft is seen not just as a loss of property but as a wrenching from the community of a potent symbol of history and valor.
The Detroit Police Department is actively investigating this incident and is calling on the public for any information that might lead to the recovery of the statue. A monetary reward has been offered by DPD Rewards TV, with a sum of $5,000 promised for tips that result in the statue's return. This development follows reports on Tuesday that the statue was still seen at its designated place, as per The Detroit News. The department has also notified local scrapyards to be vigilant of any attempts to sell the statue.
Reflecting the broader community sentiment, Jefferson's granddaughter, Ernestine Lavergne, shared an emotional statement. "This statue has stood not just as a piece of art, but as a symbol of our community's history, values, and collective memory. To many, it represents a cherished reminder of our shared past and the lessons we carry forward," she said, as per the Detroit Free Press. The theft has not only sparked an investigation but stirred a strong community response in defense of heritage and acknowledgment of the Tuskegee Airmen's influence and triumph over adversity.
