Park Ridge homeowners say pro-vaccine Halloween display vandalized

PARK RIDGE, Ill. (WLS) -- Park Ridge homeowners Juanita and Ted Sigg said vandals defaced their pro-vaccine Halloween display, which has since been repaired.

The six wooden tombstones represent the death of anti-vaccine beliefs, reading "I'd rather die than comply," "I did my own research" and "Ivermectin believer." The idea came from the internet and turned into a family fun project.

"One thing led to another, the family kept throwing things out and I ended up making six of them," Ted said.

The display was up for less than six hours before all the tombstones were vandalized with blue spray painted "X's."

"I don't know if we were really trying to make a statement, it sounded funny so we did it," Juanita said. "Most people have stopped and talked and liked it. I had one this morning who didn't like it at all."

The Siggs filed a police report and placed a new set of security cameras pointed right at the headstones. They hope the surveillance will scare off any future vandals. The Siggs also repainted the signs and put them back on the lawn. While the couple had intended the display to be more fun than serious, they hope it encourages people to get vaccinated.

"Right up the street there are signs that say, 'unmask the children, keep my school unmasked,'" Ted said. "We all have a right to express our opinion. It doesn't mean we have the right to destroy someone else's opinion."

The Siggs have come up with other clever slogans and Ted has plenty of wood for another headstone. The couple does not currently have plans to add features to their display, but may reconsider if vandals strike again.

"We thought if there was vandalism again, we thought about putting free speech on one and setting it in there," Juanita said.