Emmett Till’s family stood on the shore of the Tallahatchie River just outside of Glendora, Miss., on Saturday. It was there, that, it is believed, the body of 14-year-old Emmett was pulled from the water after he had been kidnapped, tortured and lynched nearly 65 years ago.

For decades, the spot was unmarked, but in 2008, signs detailing Emmett’s harrowing journey were installed around the region, and for the first time there was a memorial to the African-American teenager whose death galvanized the civil rights movement.

But the sign at the Tallahatchie River location was stolen and thrown into the river.

A replacement was soon marred with bullet holes.