Were the 22 letters pried off the granite face of the I-35W Remembrance Garden in Minneapolis stolen for their value as scrap metal? Or were they chosen for a more calculated reason?

A number of Star Tribune readers asked for a list of the stolen letters, believing that the thief wanted to spell his or her name. The stainless steel letters were ripped off the wall from different parts of the message, showing no apparent bias for a particular word or shape of letter.

So, here you go: a complete list of the purloined letters. Note: A single comma was also removed, as well as the dot above an "i". Perhaps the dot was used as a period in the thief's message?

The missing letters, in the order they took in the message: u, l, n, t, d, w, a, i, n, y, a, w, g, e, a, s, r, m, m, o, g, e.

Find something interesting? Call the property crimes division in the Minneapolis Police department's First Precinct at 612-673-5701.

Minneapolis police aren't saying much about their investigation of the vandalism, which happened just two days after the memorial was unveiled to the public along West River Parkway.

The letters were part of this message, which, given the endeavor this story asks you to undertake, seems especially appropriate:

"Our lives are not only defined by what happens, but by how we act in the face of it, not only by what life brings us, but by what we bring to life. Selfless actions and compassion create enduring community out of tragic events."

MATT MCKINNEY