Authorities are investigating after the Wathena American Legion was found broken into and burglarized Veteran’s Day morning.

Wathena Chief of Police Jason Pendleton said the police department was notified after the American Legion was opened up Friday morning.

“They were there actually picking up flowers to put in the cemetery and that’s when they noticed the damage,” Pendleton said.

He said they are still trying to determine what all was taken but the door was broken, photos of WWI veterans were stolen, as well as a clock and some larger photos were taken from off the wall.

“It was mostly photos from what I understand,” Pendleton said. “They threw some mail around and of course the damage they did to the door was significant. I don’t know if they were looking for anything in particular but they were looking through everything to see what they could find.”

Pendleton said the break-in is believed to have taken place sometime late Thursday night to early Friday morning. Currently police have no suspects.

“As we get further information we are going to continue to put it out on social media and things of that nature and if anybody might recognize anything we put on social media or hears anything we’d sure like to know,” Pendleton said. “It’s a disgrace and to believe that somebody would do that on Veteran’s Day is heartbreaking.”

Since Pendleton has worked for the department he said there have been at least two other break-ins reported at the Legion in the past.  Duston Hansen with the Legion posted photos of the aftermath of the most recent break-in on social media asking for anyone with information to contact authorities.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Wathena Police Department at (785) 989-4521 or the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office at (785) 985-3711.