Key facts
- The National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. was vandalized on Thursday.
- The vandalism involved filling the memorial's fountain with soap bubbles and painting graffiti.
The National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. was vandalized with soap and graffiti on Thursday. The interior department condemned the act, stating that the perpetrator will be found.
The vandalism of a national memorial dedicated to honoring those who served and died in World War II is seen as a profound disrespect to a significant historical event and the individuals involved, sparking official condemnation and vows for investigation.
The National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. was vandalized on Thursday with soap and graffiti, prompting a strong response from authorities. The memorial's fountain was filled with suds, and the phrase "Clean hands Dirty $" was painted on a surface, accompanied by red and green paint splatters. Uniformed police and National Guard troops converged on the scene, which was cordoned off with crime scene tape. Investigators were seen measuring the graffiti damage, and workers arrived to begin cleanup. The memorial, dedicated in 2004, honors the 400,000 Americans who died and 16 million who served in World War II. The interior department, which oversees the National Park Service, called the vandalism "an utter disgrace" and stated that the perpetrator would be found. The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a non-profit group, described the act as "unacceptable" and emphasized that national memorials are sacred places of remembrance. The incident occurs amid a period of political polarization, with a mention of Donald Trump's campaign to alter memorials in Washington.