Detectives in Bushnell, Florida are investigating as a hate crime the vandalism of Jewish headstones in a veterans' cemetery.

Sumter County Sheriff's Office detectives started their investigation into what happened to the headstones.

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More than a dozen headstones in two sections of the Florida National Cemetery were found pushed over or dug out last weekend.

The headstones were identified as Jewish by the Stars of David on them.

The Florida National Cemetery is run by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"It's a shame because we consider this to be holy ground," said Cemetery Director Kurt Rotar.

According to the sheriff's office, the damaged plots included those who had served in World War II, Vietnam and the Korean War.

Department spokesman Lt. Bobby Caruthers said the incident is being investigated as a hate crime.

"These people served our country and are heroes, and this shouldn't have happened," he said.

Andrew Rosenkranz, the Anti-Defamation League's Florida Regional Director said, "The targeting and desecration of Jewish gravestones is despicable, unacceptable and the perpetrators of this apparent hate crime should face the full extent of criminal penalties."