Boots and dog tags from patriotic display returned to Bridesburg family

Many people spent Monday honoring our service men and women for defending our country, but one local veteran woke up to a heartless act. Someone actually stole items he earned when he was deployed. Thankfully, we just learned some good news.

Memorial Day is a big deal in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia. Marine veteran Drew Mcilhenny is proud of the patriotic display he put up in front of his home on East Thompson Street --his boots, helmet and dog tags from his 2006-2007 tour of duty in Iraq

"Everybody seemed to love it yesterday, just take pictures with it. Kids were stopping, old vets were stopping, young vets. It was pretty cool," he said.

Sadly, when he woke up Tuesday morning it was all gone--stolen--ripped off the wood block they were screwed into.

"It was very sentimental to us. Those are actually the boots he wore when he served in Iraq. His dog tags are still attached to them," his wife, Danielle, said.

She says the hardest part was telling their two children. Their son Jax took it especially hard knowing how much it meant to his brave father.

It's also a crushing blow for this patriotic neighborhood. Many who live here are outraged someone would stope so low.

The Mcilhenny's have reported it to the police and neighbors are checking their surveillance to see if the thief was caught on camera.

Drew often puts decorations out on this wood block for the neighborhood to enjoy and nothing is ever touched or stolen.

After our FOX 29 newscast aired Tuesday someone returned the boots and dogs tags; however, the helmet remains missing.