Afghanistan Veteran Thwarts Theft for Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund

Veteran foils suspected theft attempt by Mount Clemens man accused of taking from Fallen Heroes Memorial display
The Macomb Daily
By Carol Hopkins
POSTED: 01/09/15

Tom’s Coney Island in Waterford staff and friends were happy Waterford Police were able to recover veterans memorial money taken Jan. 2. From left to right, waitress Maria Mason, fund director Skip Bushart, Tom’s owner Liz Sinishas and veteran Brandon Vickery. Carol Hopkins--For The Macomb Daily

A suspicious active-duty veteran is being credited for helping police track down men accused of taking cash intended for an Oakland County veterans memorial. Brandon Vickery, 28, of Waterford –– a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army National Guard –– was sitting at the Tom’s Coney Island lunch counter in Waterford the late afternoon Jan. 2 when two men came into the restaurant.

Near the cash register is a display with candy bars and an envelope for anyone who wants to donate to the Oakland County Fallen Heroes Military Memorial run by Skip Bushart of Waterford.

When the men got their food and left, Vickery –– who recently returned from his second tour in Afghanistan –– told the staff to check the candy bars since he’d seen the men near the display. “We looked and the money was gone,” said Sinishas, who has owned the restaurant nine years. The envelope had $7 inside, she said. read more here