Although I didn't handle the logistics of setting up the shipping arrangements, I paid the bills to have the model shipped from Austria (where Rene lives and the model used to live) to Pensacola and for Rene to travel to Pensacola to reassemble the model. This, for one reason, is why I'm still involved to find answers. From what I've been told so far it looks to have been a disgruntled trucker issue. Not proven yet but the inquiry and investigations are currently in motion to find out the actual facts. The answers will come and if indeed it's proven to be vandalism there will be h*ll to pay. That I can assure you.
BTW I've been dealing with truckers in many ways for years and nine out of ten have always been class acts and incredibly hard working and careful folks. Accidents happen, but vandalism is another thing.
The model was fully insured so that's at least a good thing, but no comfort towards what really mattered to begin with. Rene is a special and gifted person who certainly didn't need this to happen and the whole mission of this model to go to the National Museum in Pensacola was for an extremely good cause. Veterans of the real USS Sangamon were put through a combination of shock, sadness and disappointment to relief and excitement. Half of that equation was unnecessary and unforgivable.
Rene's modeling friends who came to his aid in Pensacola have certainly given me a new outlook on the potential for kindness and generosity of humans towards humans. Shame it doesn't work that way more often.
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