Lockport resident Pete Robinson added flags this afternoon to the currently-barren Albert Jex memorial. Robinson has offered an award for information leading to the conviction of those who damaged the memorial overnight Friday. Many have offered to help. (PHOTOS BY HEATHER N. GRIMMER / ENP PHOTOGRAPHER)

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The Albert Jex memorial bench was vandalized overnight Friday. Several people are coming forward to fix it and find the perpetrators. (CONTRIBUTED BY BILL RUTLAND)

A memorial bench found in pieces Saturday morning had the Lockport community working as one today.

The bench for PFC Albert Jex, located on Locust Street near Genesee Street, was vandalized overnight Friday by an unknown person or people.

Jex was killed on Feb. 9, 2009 by a roadside bomb near Mosul, Iraq.

The bench was found Saturday morning in several pieces. Those pieces were picked up by Town of Lockport resident Dave Mongielo, who took them to Orleans Monument Company in hopes that they can fix it.

"The seats and the back rest are fine," but both legs have damage that will have to be fixed, he said.

Hogs for Heroes is also taking donations to fix the bench, while another group has started a fund to catch the perpetrators.

Pete Robinson said this afternoon that he was putting money up for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Kim Milani, whose family owns Sub Delicious, which sits kitty corner to where the bench was, added $200 to the reward. Lindsey Johnson and Rottin Ink tattoo shop added to the fund, as well.

"You don't do something like this and get away with it," Milani said.

She also sent a pizza to Home Depot to thank them for a donation they made to Robinson. He had gone to the home improvement store on Transit Road to get some flags and lights to put around the spot where the bench goes. They ended up donating 25 flags and a solar light system to the cause.

Robinson arranged the flags — with Milani's help — in an oval around where the monument goes. He then added the lights with the help of Jennifer D'Andrea-Terreri of SERV Niagara. The longer Robinson worked at the spot, the more people came up and offered to help.

"He says something and people just gravitate to him to help," D'Andrea-Terreri said.

One of those people was Marion Ford, who stopped by this afternoon to see how she could contribute.

"I think (the vandalism) is one of the worst things someone could do," she said. To combat it, she said, "I can donate my time or some money ... and I can speak out, too."

Those looking to donate can send money to the Hogs and Heroes Foundation, PO Box 483, Buffalo NY, 14223 with "Albert Jex bench" in the memo field.

Robinson talks with Jennifer D'Andrea-Terreri and Marion Ford this afternoon.

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