In a sickening display of disrespect for America’s history, vandals have destroyed the grave of Captain William Lytle — a Revolutionary War hero and founding figure of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The senseless act, which also damaged surrounding family headstones, has left local patriots outraged and determined to repair the damage.
The vandalism was discovered on August 13, 2025, when local media confirmed that Captain Lytle’s grave — along with those of his relatives — had been smashed, broken, and toppled. Members of the Tennessee Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) immediately mobilized, vowing to restore the site and honor the hero’s memory.
“They were either broken or knocked over. There’s not a headstone that hasn’t been vandalized somehow,” SAR Stones River president Robert Bolyard told WGNS. “We’re at the beginning stages of the police report and starting the restoration process.”
To fund the work, the SAR quickly launched a GoFundMe campaign with a $50,000 goal. The response has been strong, as citizens from across the state — and beyond — step forward to help repair what many see as sacred ground. A $1,000 reward is also being offered for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.
Jim Sandman, another SAR member, issued a heartfelt plea on the GoFundMe page: “This cemetery was senselessly vandalized in June 2025. At least nine graves were damaged or toppled over. We ask for your support to restore, preserve, and maintain the Captain William Lytle Historical Cemetery.”
The attack on Lytle’s grave strikes at the heart of Tennessee’s history. Captain William Lytle was not just a soldier in the fight for American independence; after the war, he was granted land for his service and donated part of it to establish Murfreesboro. The town itself is named after another patriot, Colonel Hardy Murfree.
For years, the site has been recognized as a Tennessee Historic Cemetery and has hosted countless ceremonies by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). It has served as a living monument to the men and women who sacrificed for America’s freedom.
The Murfreesboro Police Department has opened an investigation, with its property crime division now leading the case. While the motive for the crime remains unclear, the attack fits into a troubling national pattern in which historical monuments and memorials — especially those tied to America’s founding — have increasingly become targets for vandals.
Bolyard remains resolute: “We are determined to make it right, get it right. Be ready to celebrate his life, his accomplishments, and everything that all our patriots did.”
Mark Young, another SAR member, compared the restoration work to assembling a “700-pound puzzle” — one that the community is ready to solve.
In the face of this disgraceful act, the people of Murfreesboro are proving that the spirit of the American Revolution still burns bright. They are standing up for their history, honoring their heroes, and sending a clear message: America’s past will not be erased.
