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It seems that
the National Park Service does not know what happened to the Wall. They are sending out two different reports.
Article published Sep 11, 2007
Vandals feared at memorial
http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070911/METRO/109110043/1004
September 11, 2007
By Natasha Altamirano - 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.
Architect
Maya Ying Lin was a 21-year-old senior at Yale University when she won the design contest.
The memorial is on the
west end of the Mall, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Get involved in the free discussion on this
disgrace at: http://www.city-data.com/forum/politics-other-controversies/152111-vietnam-memorial-wall-washington-dc-defaced.html
For Immediate Release Contact:
Lisa
Gough
Sept. 11, 2007
(202) 393-0090, ext. 109
Light, Oily Substance Spilled onto Portions of the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial; National Park Service Moves to Remove Substance Quickly
Washington, D.C. - On Friday, September 7, National
Park Service staff and volunteers discovered a light, oily and unidentified substance that was spilled over portions of some
of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial's panels and paving stones, with National Park Service (NPS) preservation
and maintenance
staff beginning the removal process immediately.
The United States Park Police has begun an investigation into the
matter, and that investigation is ongoing. Until this investigation is completed, it is premature to speculate whether any
intentional act was committed.
The NPS' preservation and maintenance staff continues to work to remove the substance
and believes it will be possible to remove the substance entirely.
For nearly 25 years, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Fund and NPS have worked together on the maintenance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
"The care and security of this national
treasure remain a top priority to both the Memorial Fund and the National Park Service," said Memorial Fund Founder and President
Jan C. Scruggs.
"While it is unclear what transpired, we are heartened by the response of the veterans' community and
the general public. After 25 years, their connection to The Wall remains as strong as ever, and we appreciate that," Scruggs
added.
As more information becomes available, the Memorial Fund and NPS will keep the news media and the general public
aware.
--
Lisa Gough
Director
of Communications
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
1023 Fifteenth Street, NW, Second Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202)
393-0090, ext. 109
Fax: (202) 393-0029
Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Fund - Home
----- Original Message -----
After several attempts, I was able to contact SGT Booker
of
the National Park Service (NPS), to check on the facts
about the defacement of the Vietnam Wall last weekend. He
explained
it was a cleaning accident by a Park Ranger and
NOT a defacement as was originally reported by the Vietnam Veterans of
American (VVA). The NPS is regarding this as an accident
instead of an act of vandalism or terrorism.
Our National Commander Patriot Henry Cook
III has the
direct phone numbers for SGT Booker of the NPS, and can
verify these facts with him directly. A copy of
this
correction is also being sent the VVA for their follow up
and verification. My apology for the error, as sometimes
it
is not always possible to reach the NPS immediately.
Any future report of attempted or actual vandalism will
be
verified with the NPS in advance, even if that means a
significant delay in reporting the incident.
Yours in Patriotism,
Steve
Cobb
Commander
Region I, MOPH
NE/Mid-Atlantic USA
Military Order of the Purple Heart
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