WASHINGTON — Vandals struck the National World War II Memorial in the nation’s capital on Thursday, scrawling red graffiti and turning its iconic fountain into a foamy mess, according to officials and witnesses.
The graffiti, which read “Clean Hands Dirty $,” was discovered splashed across part of the memorial, while soap dumped into the fountain churned up thick clouds of bubbles. U.S. Park Police shut down access to the fountain area around 4 p.m. as investigators processed the scene, with D.C. police and National Guard troops also assisting in securing the site.
The Interior Department reacted with fury, calling the vandalism an “utter disgrace” and vowing to track down those responsible. In a statement issued Thursday, the department emphasized the memorial’s solemn purpose as a tribute to the more than 400,000 Americans who died in World War II.
“The World War II Memorial is a sacred place to honor the service of our members of the Armed Forces and the over 400,000 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII,” the department said. “The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated.”
“Our U.S. Park Police are on the scene and the investigation is ongoing. The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act,” the statement continued.
Interior Department spokesman Cody Sargent offered an even blunter assessment, characterizing the act as “disgusting vandalism from deranged losers.”
The National World War II Memorial, dedicated by President George W. Bush in 2004, stands as a tribute to the 16 million Americans who served during the conflict and the millions more who supported the war effort from the home front. Its centerpiece, the Freedom Wall, is studded with 4,048 gold stars — each one representing 100 American military deaths — set beneath the inscription: “Here we mark the price of freedom.”
Tourists and passersby reacted with dismay and disgust as word of the defacement spread. The New York Post reported that visitors at the scene immediately voiced their outrage.
“It’s really sad. It’s really sad to see that we can’t even experience it,” one woman told the Post.
A male passerby was even more blunt, exclaiming, “Ah geez, that’s sh—y.” D.C. resident Ahmed Cisse added, “It’s kind of shocking for us to see that.”
Thursday’s incident is not the first act of vandalism on the National Mall this year. In June, someone scrawled “86 47” in graffiti on the Mall — a message widely interpreted as a call to “get rid of” President Donald Trump, the 47th president. “86” is a slang term commonly used to mean removing or eliminating someone or something. The new graffiti’s phrase “Clean Hands Dirty $” has not been officially explained, but its placement at the WWII Memorial suggests a political or anti-war message.
Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects in either case, and the investigation remains active.
The Interior Department’s statement made clear that the federal government will treat the defacement with the severity it believes it warrants, and that the search for the vandals is a top priority. The reference to “deranged losers” from Sargent, a political appointee, underscores the administration’s view that such acts are not mere pranks but attacks on national heritage.
National Mall monuments have long been targets for protest and vandalism, but the WWII Memorial holds a particularly revered place in the American landscape. Its deliberate design, with the Freedom Wall’s gold stars, is meant to evoke the human cost of the war — a cost that activists and elected officials alike have argued deserves the utmost respect.
For now, the memorial remains open to the public, though the fountain area may stay cordoned off while cleanup crews work to remove the graffiti and soap residue. The National Park Service, which manages the memorial, will oversee the restoration, and the Interior Department has pledged to press charges once a suspect is apprehended.
The incident has already drawn sharp criticism from politicians and veterans groups, and it is likely to fuel broader debates about the treatment of public monuments in a politically charged era. But for the visitors who showed up Thursday expecting to pay their respects, the sight of a beloved shrine defaced was a bitter disappointment.
As one tourist put it, the vandalism robbed them of a meaningful experience: “We can’t even experience it.”
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/iconic-war-memorial-vandalized-in-dc