Vandals feared at [Vietnam] memorial

Washington Times ^ | 11 Sep 2007 | Natasha Altamirano

[BufordP]

The U.S. Park Police are investigating suspected vandalism at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Mall.

Volunteers and National Park Service rangers on Saturday discovered a "light, oily" substance on the memorial's wall panels and the paving stones in front of it, Bill Line, a Park Service spokesman, said yesterday.

The substance, which has not been identified, was spread over an area of about 50 to 60 feet, mostly on the paving stones, Mr. Line said.

Maintenance and preservation staff were working to remove the substance with no permanent damage to the memorial.

Mr. Line could not predict when the cleaning would be completed.

The substance "could have been from a variety of different products," and it is not clear whether it was spread intentionally, said Sgt. Robert LaChance, Park Police spokesman.

"We are investigating to see if there was any criminal act or if it was an accident," Sgt. LaChance said. "We don't have any indication that it was intentional, but we are investigating to see if it's a possibility."

More than 4 million people visit the memorial each year. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the wall, which is inscribed with the names of 58,249 veterans.

[BufordP]

VIDEO: Vietnam Memorial Wall (DC) Defaced Sept 7-8, 2007 (Part 1)

Vietnam Memorial Wall Defaced This Weekend (September 7-9, 2007)

[Fudd Fan]

“Not intentional” ... yah, right.

[Brilliant]

It might just be condensation from the “fresh” Washington atmosphere.

[BufordP]

DC Chapter ping

[CholeraJoe]

An oily substance? (Insert ethnic slur here)

[DaveLoneRanger]

People place papers against the stones and trace the names, right? This oily substance would prevent that, and probably make a mess for any unwitting people.

[donozark]

Good to know the “Park Police” will be investigating this. They sure did a bang-up (no pun intended) job on the Vince Foster case...

[donozark]

Oh, and how long has it been since main stream media picked up on this? 3 days? Amazing...

[RDTF]

infuriating

[Clemenza]

Chief Wiggum of the DC Park Police takes offense to your comments! Didn’t you hear that he is putting his son Ralphie on this one?

[generally]

Why is it taking so long to investigate?

How tough is it to identify a substance like this? How likely is it that the substance is anything really unusual? If it’s common, then it should be readily identifiable. If it’s uncommon, then it should be a major clue pointing to the perps.

Have I been watching too much CSI? They seem to be dragging their feet and making this harder and slower than it needs to be.

[green iguana]

Someone spills their suntan oil and it’s breaking news?

[Between the Lines]

The substance, which has not been identified ... Maintenance and preservation staff were working to remove the substance with no permanent damage to the memorial.

I work for a cleaning company. Never ever clean anything valuable without knowing exactly what you are removing!

[Doctor Raoul]

Someone spills their suntan oil and it’s breaking news?

That's your best guess?

[Yehuda]

green iguana wrote: “Someone spills their suntan oil and it’s breaking news?”

“The substance, which has not been identified, was spread over an area of about 50 to 60 feet, mostly on the paving stones, Mr. Line said.”

[BufordP]

Go watch the video I posted at Reply 2.

[bmwcyle]

Let me add you win the stupid reply of the month.

[BufordP]

One more thing. Maybe you should contact the Wash Times and tell them they need to change their headline to “Suntan lotion spilled on Vietnam Memorial”

[Centurion2000]

Someone spills their suntan oil and it’s breaking news?

Go read a few more articles on this before posting something else that's stupid.

[elc]

Didn’t the Code Pink commies arrive in town this weekend? Just a coinkydink?

[3D-JOY]

I feel so strongly about this that a reply to your uninformed comment would be so hot my keyboard would “flare up” equal to my temper.

Please get informed...this is a very important event to many Freepers.

I await your further comments.....

[3D-JOY]

Thanks for the thread BufordP...maybe we can keep up to date on this one.

Nothing on any news that I have been able to find...yet!

I am going to Arlington Cemetery tomorrow. I think I will go to the wall too this time.

[AmericaUnite]

Take a look at pics posted by tgslTakoma http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1893742/posts?page=251,50

[COBOL2Java]

The biggest supply of oily substance in DC is behind the podium at the Congressional hearings...

[donozark]

HEY IKE! Who stole your dentures???

[Da Mav]

I’m somewhat surprised that the memorial doesn’t seem to have been covered by surveilance cameras. The security obviously was not adequate by definition, since it was defaced.

On the other hand, whoever the low life scum is that did this, it’s likely IMO that they will boast about it to others at some point. Just outrageous.

[rogue yam]

BREAKING: Substance on Vietnam Memorial found to be PoliGrip.

[RaceBannon]

I just got a phone call from a friend who said some park person admitted doing it by accident, any formal word on this from your end?

[Brofholdonow]

And Teddy’s drunken driving son...

[George W. Bush]

Sad if this was vandalism. Many of the families visit the monument.

Hopefully, it was just an accident, perhaps some cleaning fluids that weren't adequately mopped up.

Strange it's taking so long to find out what the substance is. You'd think an incident like this would bring the FBI out to investigate it pronto, determine the substance with their labs. These are national monuments after all.

[longtermmemmory]

DC is totally cameraed, HOW can they NOT have an image?

[BuffaloJack]

Vandals should live in fear if they even approach the Viet Nam Memorial.

[trooprally]

Thanks for the Bump.
[Mrs T]

[3D-JOY]

Looking at the tape makes it seem vandalism...the walking around and missing some areas. Different height of the application adds to this thought. Now the statues too are reported to be “splashed” at higher levels.

I would love to believe it was an accident, BUT ?

Earlier speculation about lawn care and problem equipment might “fuel” rumors too.

Just waiting for the truth.

[jdm]

An oily substance? (Insert ethnic slur here)

Where was Ted Danson this past weekend?

[BufordP]

Haven’t heard anything new.

[HiJinx]

some park person admitted doing it by accident

I have to admit I'm skeptical. The same substance appears to have been applied to at least two other monuments in the area...

And I believe the substance was spread along a greater distance than 50-60 feet.

[BufordP]

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vandalized (CNSNews.com)

Vandalism at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial? (WTOP radio)

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

I am confident that Jan Scruggs has dropped a few dimes and spoken with some powerful people re actions to prevent further acts of desecration......

[BufordP]

See Racebannon’s Reply 29. Park Police engineering an alibi/excuse?

[La Enchiladita]

Ooooh, mummies... I hate mummies...

[CTOCS]

Remove me from this ping list, please. Thank you...

[R. Scott]

"We are investigating to see if there was any criminal act or if it was an accident,"

I'm having a hard time coming up with an accidental scenario.

[green iguana]

My apologies to all. I hadn’t seen any pictures - it’s obviously not unintentional. It was the ‘mostly on the paving stones’ part that made it sound accidental and an over reaction by the Times to me.

[BufordP]

So is the Park Service. But me thinks they’re workin’ on it.

[MEG33]

It looked like a squirt bottle was used..easily hidden...I cannot imagine the thinking of such people..

[freepertoo]

My precious cousin, Bob’s, name is on that wall. I take this personally.

[trooprally]

Apology accepted. At least you have the back bone to post it.

The video is hard to discredit but the Park Service is trying. They are saying 50-60 feet. Hell, it’s the whole WALL. And tgslTakoma said that it was also on the two Memorial Statues.

[Mr] T

[trooprally]

When I spoke to the park police on Sunday they said that it was Vandalized sometime Friday night.She ask me if I knew who did it I gave her my thoughts and she said unless I had a name there is nothing they can do/ Does not add up what they are saying today. [Mrs T]