A 9/11 memorial was vandalized in Washingtonville Tuesday, and a $5,500 reward is being offered to find whoever is responsible for it.

Five FDNY firefighters from Washingtonville lost their lives on 9/11. When someone destroyed the flagpole in Washingtonville Tuesday night, some said it was like desecrating a grave.

“It brought tears to my eyes because I lost a lot of friends, and it’s still hurting," says Renaldo Robledo, 9/11 first responder.

Robledo came down to Memorial Park in the village on Thursday to leave a folded flag and pay his respects.

He's not the only one. News 12 saw others placing flags, and volunteers from the Monell Engine Company put up a temporary flag pole.

Volunteer firefighters were seen keeping watch over the memorial overnight.

The hope at first was that the flagpole did not come down on purpose, but when police got there they quickly realized that wasn’t the case.

Authorities pointed out it became obvious early on that someone took a saw to the pole and purposely cut it down.

Village Mayor Joseph Bucco says the flagpole will be fixed immediately and that cameras will be installed to make sure nothing like this happens again.

"They picked the wrong village here for this to happen," says Bucco.

Officials say the FBI is assisting local authorities with the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Washingtonville police at 845-496-9123.