Federal authorities are investigating vandalism at the National World War II Memorial in Washington after soap caused its fountain to overflow with suds and graffiti reading “Clean hands Dirty $” was painted on the site.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Federal authorities have launched an investigation after the National World War II Memorial in Washington was vandalized Thursday with graffiti and soap that filled its fountain with thick suds.
Someone painted the words “Clean hands Dirty $” on part of the memorial and splattered paint around the area, while soap placed in the fountain caused bubbles to spill across the site.
The Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service, condemned the damage and said U.S. Park Police were investigating.
“The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated,” the department said in a statement. “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 memorial, located on the National Mall, honors the Americans who served and died during World War II.
Dedicated in 2004, the site contains 56 granite pillars positioned around an elliptical plaza. It commemorates approximately 16 million Americans who served in the armed forces during the war and more than 400,000 who died, according to the National Park Service.
The Friends of the National WWII Memorial, a nonprofit organization devoted to preserving and supporting the site, described Thursday’s vandalism as “unacceptable.”
The organization said the memorial represents a “sacred place of remembrance” for those who served and sacrificed during the conflict.
“There are many places in our country for expression, debate, and disagreement. A national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned home should never be used as a canvas for vandalism,” the Friends said in a statement.
The motive behind the graffiti was not immediately clear from the information released Thursday.
Authorities also had not publicly identified a suspect.
The National World War II Memorial occupies a prominent location in the nation’s capital and commemorates a conflict that remains one of the most widely shared points of national remembrance in the United States.
American participation in World War II is broadly associated with national pride and unity, although some aspects of the war continue to generate historical debate, including the U.S. decision to use atomic bombs against Hiroshima and Nagasaki near the end of the conflict.
The vandalism also comes amid renewed political debate over monuments and memorials in Washington.
President Donald Trump has pursued changes involving federal memorials and commemorative sites in the capital, a campaign that has generated political disagreement over how national history should be represented.
Thursday’s incident, however, prompted condemnation centered specifically on damage to a memorial honoring millions of Americans who served during World War II.
Federal officials said the investigation remains active and pledged to identify whoever was responsible for the damage.
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