Jeanine Pirro Announces Melissa L. Farris Arrest Over World War II Memorial Vandalism in Washington, D.C.

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Pirro announces arrest in WWII Memorial vandalism Farris could face "up to ten years in prison" if convicted, Pirro said. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Friday announced the arrest of a suspect who allegedly vandalized the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., saying in a post on social media that her office filed two felony charges against a woman, with a penalty of "up to ten years in prison." In the post, Pirro identified the suspect as Melissa L. Farris and said Farris is in custody. An attorney for Farris could not immediately be reached for comment. "Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom," Pirro wrote. According to ABC affiliate WJLA, U.S. Park Police launched an investigation on Thursday after red paint was dumped onto the walls and floor of the Atlantic pavilion, and a substance poured into the fountain caused it to bubble. A witness photographed a woman authorities later identified as Farris in the apparent act of spray painting the WWII Memorial on Thursday before Farris fled, according to the statement of facts filed in federal court. When the witness passed the images on to law enforcement, a U.S. Park Police officer recognized Farris as someone they had arrested on Aug. 10 -- just a few days prior -- for unlawfully camping on federal property a few blocks from the WWII Memorial, according to the complaint. Authorities found social media postings, including a livestream video before the alleged vandalism and another video where she allegedly admits to damaging the memorial and says she was surprised that no one immediately arrested her, according to the complaint. “Why the [expletive] didn’t I get arrested? You don’t think that’s weird…," she said in the video, according to court records. Farris is charged with depredation against property of the U.S. and destruction of a veterans' memorial. When asked for comment on the incident, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said: "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 vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated." Friends of the World War II Memorial, a group dedicated to preserving the monument, called the vandalism "unacceptable." "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 group wrote in a statement. President Donald Trump also weighed in on the incident on Thursday. "Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II," Trump wrote in a social media post.

A woman has been arrested and charged with two felonies over the vandalism of the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, weeks after President Donald Trump publicly rebuked his own US attorney over a separate vandalism case at the nearby Reflecting Pool. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said on Friday that Melissa Farris, 41, had been taken into custody and charged with depredation of US property and destruction of veterans’ memorials. Recommended Stories list of 4 items- list 1 of 4Trump administration to dismiss Reflecting Pool charges against David Hearn - list 2 of 4US drops charges against Olympian for damage to Reflecting Pool - list 3 of 4Trump denounces Justice Department decision to drop Reflecting Pool charges - list 4 of 4Why did Trump attack Jeanine Pirro over US reflecting pool ‘vandalism’? The charges carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The arrest comes a day after the memorial was vandalised with soap and graffiti. Bubbles filled its fountain, while the words “Clean hands dirty $” were painted in red and green on its surface. “Vandalising our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honouring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom,” Pirro wrote on the social media platform X, adding that her father and grandfather were among those who served in the US armed forces. Pirro also posted photographs of a woman who appeared to be holding a spray-paint can near red graffiti on the memorial. She did not say where the images came from. Farris is expected to be arraigned on Friday. The Public Defender’s Office said earlier in the day that she had not yet been assigned a lawyer. Trump-Pirro clash over Reflecting Pool The charges come weeks after Pirro dropped vandalism charges against several people accused of damaging the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The decision angered Trump and exposed a rare public disagreement between the president and one of his political appointees. Trump had claimed the pool was deliberately vandalised after renovations he had ordered and overseen. But its condition deteriorated within days of the work being completed, with blue sealant peeling and algae appearing in the water. Pirro held a news conference in early July to charge former Olympic athlete David Hearn with the alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism. He was one of at least seven people who faced criminal charges over the pool’s peeling sealant. While Pirro had initially said the government’s case was built on “tremendous evidence”, she issued a court motion less than a month later, on August 1, dropping the charges against Hearn. Pirro asserted that the Interior Department had provided her office “less than fulsome information at the outset of the case”, and she blamed the damage on faulty repairs to the Reflecting Pool. Trump responded by sharply criticising Pirro and doubling down on his allegations of vandalism, though he has yet to provide definitive proof. “I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro. She folded like an umbrella,” he told reporters on 3 August. Trump appeared to connect that dispute with the latest vandalism at the World War II Memorial on Friday. “Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “First the Reflecting Pool, now this,” he continued. “We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???” The Interior Department said US Park Police were investigating the vandalism and pledged to find whoever was responsible. “The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act,” the department said. Trump has made renovations to Washington, DC, a major facet of his second term, and he and his allies have initiated controversial renovations to the White House and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, among other landmarks. This month also marks the anniversary of Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Washington, DC, in an effort to crack down on crime. Critics, however, have criticised Trump for a heavy-handed approach to law enforcement and have questioned the basis for some of the charges brought under his anti-crime campaign.

Suspect arrested in World War II Memorial vandalism in Washington, Pirro says Suspect arrested in World War II Memorial vandalism in Washington, Pirro says WASHINGTON (AP) — A person has been arrested in connection with vandalism at The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. Pirro announced on X that her office was filing two felony charges against Melissa L. Farris. Pirro said the felony charges are “Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials.” The offenses carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. Farris was expected to be arraigned Friday. The Public Defender’s office said she was not yet listed in the system and had not been assigned an attorney. The arrest followed the discovery of the vandalism, which included bubbles filling a fountain and “Clean hands dirty $" written in red paint. “Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” Pirro wrote. The vandalism comes weeks after President Donald Trump said the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was deliberately damaged, without providing evidence. Vandalism charges against multiple people were filed and swiftly dropped after Pirro said the cause of the damage was botched repairs at the pool. “Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals,” he said on Friday on his Truth Social site. “THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II.” The Interior Department said that the U.S. Park Police were on the scene following the Thursday vandalism and an investigation was ongoing. “The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act,” the department said. The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a nonprofit organization that helps maintain the site, said: “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 Veterans of Foreign Wars called the vandalism “an act of profound disrespect, a slap in the face to the veterans who served and sacrificed and to the families who carried that burden at home.” The World War II Memorial is just east of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the Mall. After a botched repair job earlier this year left the pool with peeling blue sealant and green algae, Trump blamed the issues on vandalism without providing evidence. “First the Reflecting Pool, now this,” Trump said in his Truth Social post. “We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???” A former Olympian was charged in late July with deliberately damaging the Reflecting Pool, but the Justice Department later moved to dismiss that case, saying evidence prosecutors had received refuted the idea that vandals were to blame. Trump sharply criticized Pirro’s assessment that damage to the Reflecting Pool was the result of shoddy construction and not the work of vandals, as he claimed. The case dismissal was an embarrassing setback for a Justice Department that had previously echoed Trump’s claims and billed the prosecution as accountability for damage at a Washington landmark, a pet project of Trump. Pirro’s decision to drop the case was also a rare moment during Trump’s second term of an aide or political appointee openly defying him. Pirro blamed the Interior Department for providing “less than fulsome information at the outset of the case.” It was a jarring turn in position from Pirro, who had claimed the government’s case was built on “tremendous evidence” when she announced the indictment. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in a posting on X appeared to push back against Pirro’s criticism, claiming some of the acts of vandalism were captured on video.

Washington — The top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., said a woman has been arrested and faces two felony charges related to vandalism of the World War II Memorial in the capital. Melissa Farris has been charged with depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans' memorials, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said on X. Pirro said Farris is in custody. "Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom," Pirro said. The World War II Memorial is located on the National Mall, between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. On Thursday, fountains at the memorial were seen filled with soapy bubbles, and a wall was defaced with red paint, including graffiti reading "Clean Hands Dirty $." Pirro's post on X included a photo of the woman she identified as Farris appearing to spray-paint the walls of the memorial: Court filings detailing the charges against Farris were not immediately available. A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said in a statement Thursday that U.S. Park Police were investigating the incident. In a Truth Social post Friday morning, President Trump said there was "NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II." The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a nonprofit organization that works to preserve the site, said in a statement that "a national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned home should never be used as a canvas for vandalism." The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny and security on the National Mall over recent renovations and restoration projects. In July, four people, including former Olympian David Hearn, were or charged by Pirro's office with allegedly damaging the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. But the were ultimately after federal prosecutors said that the damage was caused by a "botched" construction job by a contractor, and not vandalism.Last week, CBS News reported that bringing the charges against Hearn again, after Mr. Trump continued to claim without evidence that there "may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!"No final decision has been made, sources told CBS News. Another case of vandalism involved the lawn near the Washington Monument in June, when discoloration in the grass began to emerge, spelling out "86 47" in huge letters. No one has been charged in relation to the markings. The term is at the center of the , who posted an image of seashells arranged as "86 47" to Instagram. Prosecutors say the post amounted to a threat against the president. Comey deleted the post and said he did not know the numbers could connote violence.

Skip to main content Press Release Kentucky Woman Charged with Vandalizing World War II Memorial on D.C.’s National Mall Friday, August 14, 2026 Share !right caret For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia farris_mellisa_-_complaint.pdf WASHINGTON – Melissa Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged by criminal complaint this morning in connection with vandalizing the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. > “Defacing the World War II Memorial is a disgusting act and an insult to the Americans who fought and died for our country,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This memorial stands in honor of the 16 million veterans who served, the millions who supported the war effort, and the more than 400,000 heroes who never came home. Vandalizing a monument dedicated to their sacrifice is a shameful attack on the legacy of our nation. We will not tolerate this kind of criminal activism, and we will ensure that anyone who desecrates a veterans’ memorial is held fully accountable.” Farris, aka “Melissa Lovewell,” is charged with Willfully Injuring or Committing a Depredation against Property of the United States and with Destruction of a Veterans’ Memorial. According to the criminal complaint, U.S. Park Police were called about 2 p.m. on August 13 for a report of a disorderly person. A witness told officers that they had observed a woman spray painting graffiti on portions of the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion of the World War II Memorial at the eastern end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. A United States Park Ranger arrived at the scene and observed foam in the fountain area of the Atlantic pavilion. Multiple people were gathered around the balcony watching a woman shooting video of herself. The woman fled when she became aware of the Ranger’s presence. Orange-colored paint had been sprayed onto the wall with the words: “Clean Hands Dirty $.” Additionally, green-colored paint was also sprayed onto the wall just under the orange spray paint, and pink-colored paint was splattered on the ground. In a trash can near the north entrance of the balcony, law enforcement recovered a white sign with painted letters. The paint used on the sign appeared to match the paint that was used to vandalize the northern entrance balcony. A witness had taken a photo of the woman defacing the Memorial. One U.S. Park Police officer recognized her as someone police had arrested on August 10 for unlawfully camping on federal property near 18th Street NW and Virginia Ave. NW, just a few blocks away from the World War II Memorial. On August 10, as she was arrested by Park Police, she had live streamed the event over her Facebook and Instagram social media accounts on which she identified herself as “Melissa Lovewell.” In a review of Farris’s public social media accounts, investigators discovered that she had recorded multiple livestream videos on August 13. In one recorded video, she allegedly admitted to damaging the World War II Memorial. Before Farris defaced the World War II Memorial, she had allegedly recorded and posted a video in which she stated, “I am cognitively aware and executively (sic) of the choices I am making and I am doing so to push my whistleblower case into the courtroom . . . someone has to make choices that are different and I am accountable for my actions. I am going to make these choices today and I will step foot into the courtroom, and I will wait to be arrested . . . I am accountable for the things that I do and the choices that I make and our government needs to be accountable for their choices too.” The Memorial honors the 16 million American service members who served during World War II, the millions more who supported the war effort from the home front, and the more than 400,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war. The Memorial contains two main pavilions, the Atlantic and Pacific pavilions, named for the two main theaters of the war. Over four million tourists pay their respect at the memorial annually. !Witness photo of woman appearing to spray paint World War II Memorial. _A witness took this photograph of a woman defacing the World War II Memorial on August 13, 2026._ !Photograph of the Northern Entrance Balcony of the World War II Memorial. _The vandalized World War II Memorial on August 13, 2026._ !Photograph of Foam in the Fountain at the World War II Memorial. _Foam in the fountain of the World War II Memorial._ _Charges in a complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law._ 26mj140 Updated August 14, 2026 * Component USAO - District of Columbia Related Content Press Release One Year After Federal Law Enforcement Surge, D.C. Is Safer as Crime Declines Sharply Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro marked the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s Federal Law Enforcement Surge in the District of Columbia. The surge implemented a significant increase in federal... August 10, 2026 Press Release Master of Shadow Fleet Tanker Sentenced in D.C. for Evading U.S. Coast Guard During Weeks-Long Pursuit Avtandil Kalandadze, 47, the former ship master of a shadow fleet tanker _Bella 1_ that historically transported Iran- and Venezuela-origin oil for the ultimate benefit of U.S. adversaries, was sentenced... August 7, 2026 Press Release USAO-DC's Civil Division Earns Supreme Court Victory in Miot v. Trump Today, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Ferris Pirro, commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Division for their work litigating Miot v. Trump on behalf of the U.S. Government... August 7, 2026

WASHINGTON - Authorities have taken into custody the suspect accused of vandalizing the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, where bubbles filled a fountain and "Clean hands dirty $" was written in red paint. Melissa L. Farris (U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro) In a post on X, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro identified the suspect as Melissa L. Farris. Pirro called the vandalism "a despicable attack on a sacred monument" and said her office is filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials, offenses that carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. She said Farris is now in custody. The Interior Department said U.S. Park Police responded to the scene following Thursday’s vandalism. The incident was discovered weeks after President Donald Trump said the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was deliberately damaged, calling those responsible "animals." On Friday, he wrote on Truth Social that the World War II Memorial had been hit by "Spray Painting Vandals," calling it a grave insult to Americans who died in the war. The Friends of the National World War II Memorial said national memorials should never be used as a canvas for vandalism, noting there are many places for expression and debate. The Veterans of Foreign Wars called the act "a slap in the face" to veterans and their families. The Source: Information in this article comes from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the Associated Press and previous FOX 5 reporting.

A Minnesota Army veteran visiting Washington, D.C., said she was ‘offended’ by the vandalism after traveling to the World War II Memorial to pay respects to those who served before her. The suspect accused ofvandalizingthe World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., has been taken into custody, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia are charging Melissa L. Farris with two felony charges for her alleged role in the vandalism. "Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather. This morning, we are filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans' Memorials, in Federal District Court against Melissa L. Farris, offenses that carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. She is now in custody," Pirro added. The DOJ is accusing Farris of an act of vandalism which occurred Thursday. The words "Clean hands, dirty money," were spray-painted on the memorial in bright pink paint. PROSECUTORS MOVE TO DISMISS FELONY VANDALISM CASE AGAINST OLYMPIAN DAVID HEARN OVER REFLECTING POOL Vandals poured bubble soap and painted graffiti on the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., Thursday.(Credit Image: © Andrew Leyden/ZUMA Press Wire) Bubble soap was also dumped into the fountain at the center of the memorial, according to authorities. President Donald Trump reacted strongly to the memorial's defacement. "Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II. First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???" he wrote in a Friday post on Truth Social. The memorial is the latest D.C. monument targeted this year. Trumpcontinues to seekthe prosecution of a former Olympian accused of ripping the Lincoln Monument Memorial Reflecting Pool's coating. Trump posted about a hard rubber surface on the Lincoln Monument Memorial Reflecting Pool being targeted by vandals.(Donald J. Trump/Truth Social) TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM ALLEGATIONS, CITES NEW WITNESS ACCOUNT In June, U.S. Park Police also launched an investigation after the numbers "8647" wereburned into the grassnear the Washington Monument. The numbers "86 47" on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial.(Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox NewsPrivacy PolicyandTerms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time. Subscribed You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!

A woman accused of vandalizing the World War II Memorial has been arrested in Washington, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. Melissa L. Farris is facing two felony charges in federal court, Pirro said on social media. Court documents show Farris is facing a count of willfully injuring or committing a depredation against property of the United States as well as a count of destruction of a Veterans’ Memorial. World War II Memorial vandalized with spray paint and bubbles “Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” Pirro wrote. The memorial was vandalized Thursday with bubbles filling the fountain and graffiti that appeared to read “Clean hands dirty $.” The suspect appears to have livestreamed the incident on Facebook in an account under her name. A video posted to Facebook that went live around 2 p.m. ET on Thursday shows a woman shaking a can of spray paint and then spray painting the memorial. “It was me, I’m doing it, I did it, it’s on camera,” the woman, who authorities identified as Farris, said in the Thursday livestream. Another livestream posted on Friday morning appears to show the woman identified as Farris turning herself in. Law enforcement responded to a call of a disorderly person on Thursday, after which a U.S. Park Ranger observed the woman later identified as Farris flee the area, U.S. Park Police Detective Christopher Edmund wrote in an affidavit. The affidavit said a U.S. Park Police officer then recognized the suspect as someone they arrested for unlawfully camping on federal property on August 10. Farris had a Kentucky driver’s license when she was arrested on the camping charge on August 10, the affidavit said. The arrest comes after Pirro’s office made the call to drop a case against former Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn in connection with an incident at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a decision that drew President Donald Trump’s ire. Pirro’s office said that the damage to the Reflecting Pool was “the result of flawed installation.” A judge dismissed the charge against Hearn but had not yet decided whether to ban Pirro’s office from bringing charges against Hearn in the future. Trump denounced the vandalism in a post on Truth Social, connecting the damage at the World War II Memorial with the Reflecting Pool saga. “Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II. First the Reflecting Pool, now this,” Trump wrote in a post Friday. “We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???” The Friends of the National World War II Memorial said in a statement that the location is “a sacred place of remembrance—a place where veterans, families, students, and visitors from across our nation and around the world come to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, unity, and service of a generation that helped preserve freedom.” The Interior Department, which oversees the two monuments and other historic sites, said the vandalism was “an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A person has been arrested in connection with vandalism atThe World War II Memorialon the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. Pirro announced on X that her office was filing two felony charges against Melissa L. Farris. Pirro said the felony charges are “Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials.” The offenses carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.

National Reporting Needs Local Support Your local PBS station powers PBS News and keeps it free and accessible for everyone in your community. Close Popup PBS News !World War II Memorial reportedly vandalized in Washington By — Gary Fields, Associated Press Gary Fields, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/world-war-ii-memorial-in-washington-vandalized-with-bubbles-and-graffiti-upsetting-trump Suspect arrested in World War II Memorial vandalism in Washington Politics Updated on Aug 14, 2026 1:47 PM EDT — Published on Aug 14, 2026 10:29 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A person has been arrested in connection with vandalism at The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. Pirro announced on X that her office was filing two felony charges against Melissa L. Farris. Pirro said the felony charges are "Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans' Memorials." The offenses carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. On Thursday, the words "Clean hands dirty $" were found painted on the monument and bubbles filled a fountain. "Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather," Pirro wrote. A woman identified on her Facebook page as Melissa Lovewell posted a video Thursday in which she is seen taking cans of spray paint from her bag and then painting the monument. "I will wait here to be arrested for spraying our veterans' fountain," she says. "It was me, I'm doing it, it's on camera." In a video posted Friday, the woman, who in a separate post said she had been in Washington for three weeks, said she was turning herself in. !World War II Memorial reportedly vandalized in Washington Soap at the pool of the World War II Memorial, after it was reportedly vandalized with soap and graffiti, in Washington, D.C. Photo by Kylie Cooper/Reuters The arrest warrant filed in the case indicated that witnesses took pictures of the vandalism occurring, which were circulated among U.S. Park Police officers. One officer recognized the suspect as someone they arrested Aug. 10 "for unlawfully camping on federal property" just blocks away. She livestreamed that arrest, the warrant said. The suspect was identified by her Kentucky driver's license as Melissa L. Farris, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Farris was expected to be arraigned Friday. The Public Defender's office said she was not yet listed in the system and had not been assigned an attorney. The incident sparked harsh rebukes from both Pirro and President Donald Trump and comes after the president blamed damage to the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on vandals, without providing evidence. That case prompted charges against multiple people which were dropped when Pirro said evidence showed the damage came from botched repairs after Trump's renovation at the site. "Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals," Trump said on Friday on his Truth Social site. "First the Reflecting Pool, now this." READ MORE: Reflecting Pool's botched repairs threaten to tarnish the National Park Service's reputation The Interior Department said that the U.S. Park Police were on the scene following the Thursday vandalism and an investigation was ongoing. "The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act," the department said. The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a nonprofit organization that helps maintain the site, said: "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 Veterans of Foreign Wars called the vandalism "an act of profound disrespect, a slap in the face to the veterans who served and sacrificed and to the families who carried that burden at home." A former Olympian was charged in late July with deliberately damaging the Reflecting Pool, but the Justice Department later moved to dismiss that case, saying evidence prosecutors had received refuted the idea that vandals were to blame. Trump sharply criticized Pirro's assessment that damage to the Reflecting Pool was the result of shoddy construction and not the work of vandals, as he claimed. The case dismissal was an embarrassing setback for a Justice Department that had previously echoed Trump's claims and billed the prosecution as accountability for damage at a Washington landmark, a pet project of Trump. Pirro's decision to drop the case was also a rare moment during Trump's second term of an aide or political appointee openly defying him. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Left: Members of the National Guard stand near the World War II Memorial, after the pool was reportedly vandalized Thursday with soap and graffiti, in Washington, D.C. Photo by Kylie Cooper/Reuters Related Trump asks Supreme Court to let White House resume ballroom construction during appeal By Michael Kunzelman, Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press Reflecting Pool's botched repairs threaten to tarnish the National Park Service's reputation By Matthew Daly, Associated Press Trump talks about the Reflecting Pool and White House ballroom a lot. Here's exactly how much By Caleb McCullough, Loreben Tuquero, PolitiFact Go Deeper donald trump news national mall world war ii memorial By — Gary Fields, Associated Press Gary Fields, Associated Press Support Provided By: Learn more Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Full Episode Friday, Aug 14 Reflecting Pool case highlights disconnect between Trump's claims and court record Nation Aug 04

WASHINGTON — U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday that an arrest has been made in connection with the vandalism of The World War II Memorial on the National Mall. Pirro announced on X that her office was filing two felony charges against Melissa L. Farris. Pirro said the felony charges are "Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans' Memorials." The offenses carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. The arrest followed the discovery of the vandalism, which included bubbles filling a fountain and "Clean hands dirty $" written in red paint. "Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather," Pirro wrote. The vandalism comes weeks after President Donald Trump said the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was deliberately damaged. He called the people responsible "animals." "Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals," he said on Friday on his Truth Social site. "THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II." The Interior Department said that the U.S. Park Police were on the scene following the Thursday vandalism and an investigation was ongoing. "The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act," the department said. The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a nonprofit organization that helps maintain the site, said: "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 Veterans of Foreign Wars called the vandalism "an act of profound disrespect, a slap in the face to the veterans who served and sacrificed and to the families who carried that burden at home." The World War II Memorial is just east of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the Mall. After a botched repair job earlier this year left the pool with peeling blue sealant and green algae, Trump blamed the issues on vandalism without providing evidence. "First the Reflecting Pool, now this," Trump said in his Truth Social post. "We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???" A former Olympian was charged in late July with deliberately damaging the Reflecting Pool, but the Justice Department later moved to dismiss that case, saying evidence prosecutors had received refuted the idea that vandals were to blame. Trump sharply criticized Pirro's assessment that damage to the Reflecting Pool was the result of shoddy construction and not the work of vandals, as he claimed. The case dismissal was an embarrassing setback for a Justice Department that had previously echoed Trump's claims and billed the prosecution as accountability for damage at a Washington landmark, a pet project of Trump. Pirro's decision to drop the case was also a rare moment during Trump's second term of an aide or political appointee openly defying him. Pirro blamed the Interior Department for providing "less than fulsome information at the outset of the case." It was a jarring turn in position from Pirro, who had claimed the government's case was built on "tremendous evidence" when she announced the indictment. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in a posting on X appeared to push back against Pirro's criticism, claiming some of the acts of vandalism were captured on video.

A woman was arrested on Friday morning in connection with the vandalization of the second world war memorial on the National Mall in Washington DC, the capital’s federal prosecutor announced. Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, announced mid-morning that a suspect was in custody and had been charged with federal crimes. The memorial had graffiti scrawled on it and the pool polluted with soapy bubbles. “This morning, we are filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials, in Federal District Court against Melissa L Farris, offenses that carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. She is now in custody,” Pirro posted on X, showing two images of a middle-aged woman, one of her with what appears to be a can of spray-paint at the scene. “Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” Pirro also said in the post. US Park Police had been investigating who graffitied the words “Clean hands dirty $” in red paint on the memorial on Washington DC’s National Mall for the second world war and vandalized the fountain with soapy bubbles. The US interior department said: “The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act” and the non-profit Friends of the National World War II Memorial said the site should not be used for political expression. “There are many places in our country for expression, debate and disagreement,” a statement from the organization said. “A national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned home should never be used as a canvas for vandalism.” The Veterans of Foreign Wars military service organization said the vandalism was “an act of profound disrespect”. The memorial sits close to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, which has been the site of controversy in recent months. A contentious upgrade effort ordered by Donald Trump ahead of Fourth of July celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US became mired in dispute after new surfacing separated and algae returned. Trump blamed vandals for damage to the pool lining, though prosecutions of individuals alleged to have contributed to the problems have since collapsed, including a high-profile case involving David Hearn, the US Olympian. In early June vandals etched “8647” – a numeric signal of opposition to Trump – on the National Memorial lawn. Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, said: “Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible.” Leanna Townsend, a visitor to Washington DC from Florida this week, told the Washington Post upon seeing the clouds of bubbles frothing out of the pool at the second world war memorial that they seemed “a little bit juvenile and funny” but described the spray-paint as disrespectful. “I just find it to be in complete distaste, especially for the people that it’s here to honor,” she said. “Shame on the person who thought that’s appropriate. It’s not.” Sonja Weekley, visiting from Alabama, said the bubbles and spray-paint were “ridiculous and very disrespectful” – her grandparents and father-in-law had fought in the second world war, she told the outlet. “This is not political,” she said. “This is for the men and women who fought for us to be free.”

byFinya Swai08/14/26 11:03 AM ET A suspect has been taken into custody for allegedly vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. Her office filed two felony charges against a woman named Melissa L. Farris afterneon-orange graffitiwas found painted on the memorial’s Atlantic Pavilion and its fountain was filled with a thick layer of soap bubbles. “Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom,” Pirro said on thesocial platform X. Farris was charged with depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans’ memorials — two felony offenses that “carry penalties of up to ten years in prison.” President Trump saidFriday morning thatinvestigators were homing in on the vandals responsible for defacing the memorial, tying the spray painting to prior damage occurring at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool that the president also blamed on vandals. “First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from,” he wrote on Truth Social. The Interior Department confirmed the vandalism Thursday and said the U.S. Park Police was on the scene investigating. “The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated,” a department spokesperson said in a statement. Photosposted to social mediashow orange, pink and green markings across parts of the memorial, with the words “Clean hands Dirty $.” Soap was also dumped into the monument’s fountain, leaving the area covered in thick bubbles that were not part of a regular cleaning service. The memorial sits between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and honors the roughly 16 million Americans who served in the U.S. military during World War II, including more than 400,000 who died.

byMira Bhakta08/14/26 10:10 AM ET President Trump on Friday said investigators are on the trail of vandals who spray-painted the World War II Memorial in Washington with neon orange graffiti. Trump also tied the painting incident at the memorial to vandalism he says damaged the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. There has beensignificant pushbackto the argument that vandalism is the cause of problems at the reflecting pool, which U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro blamed on a botched job by a contractor. “Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II. First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from,” Trump wrote Fridayon Truth Social. On Friday, the White House posted photos onsocial platform Xthat showed orange, pink and green graffiti sprayed throughout the World War II memorial and thick layers of bubbles around the fountain in the center. The photos posted partially show a message written in orange graffiti by one of the entrances: “Clean hands Dirty $.” The Interior Department hasalready announcedU.S. Park Police will investigate the incident, attributing the defacement to vandals. “The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated,” an Interior Department spokesperson said in a statement. The National World War II Memorial sits between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial and honors the 16 million Americans who served in the U.S. military during World War II, including more than 400,000 who died. Pirro announced Friday that the Justice Department (DOJ)will prosecutethe suspected vandal, identified as Melissa L. Farris, on two felony charges, including depredation against property of the U.S. and destruction of veterans’ memorials. Farris is in custody andboth felony offensescarry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The Trump administrationblamed vandalsfor the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s peeling paint and inner linings, leading toseveral arrests, including of Olympian David Hearn. The DOJ laterdropped the chargesand blamed the contractors who led a multimillion-dollar renovation project on the monument. President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgumpublicly disagreedwith Pirro’s decision to drop the charges. Another incident occurred on the National Mall in the lead-up to Trump’s birthday UFC match when the grass near the Washington Monument had “86 47” scratched into it. The number “86” is typically used in restaurants to cancel something, while 47 reflects that Trump is the 47th president. Federal officialshave viewedthe phrase as a threat of violence toward Trump. Updated at 11:22 a.m. EDT.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro discusses charges related to vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a press conference in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 2, 2026. REUTERS/Cheney Orr Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro discusses charges related to vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a press conference in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 2, 2026. REUTERS/Cheney Orr Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. LufkinDailyNews.com300 Ellis Ave.,Lufkin, TX 75904Phone: 936-632-6631Newsroom Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected] Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123). Get a link to the latest e-Edition delivered to your inbox on our publication days.Sign up today! Start your morning with the top headlines each day.Sign up today! Get the latest breaking news from The Lufkin News newsroom.Sign up today! Get the latest local, college and national sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. Get the latest local and national police reports every day in your inbox. Receive the daily weather forecast and the weekly outlook in your inbox each morning. Receive the most recent obituaries every afternoon. Receive monthly updates on the latest issues of Charm East Texas magazine. Sign up to receive emails about our excitingDeals, Contests, & Special Offers! Thank you. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Check your email for details. Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. No promotional rates found. Secure & Encrypted Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123). Secure transaction.Secure transaction. Cancel anytime. Thank you. Your gift purchase was successful!Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. A receipt was sent to your email.

A visitor walks the WWII memorial the morning after it was vandalized, shown Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Washington. WASHINGTON (AP) — A person has been arrested in connection with vandalism at The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. Pirro announced on X that her office was filing two felony charges against Melissa L. Farris. Pirro said the felony charges are “Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials.” The offenses carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. It was unclear when Farris might be arraigned. The Public Defender’s office said she was not yet listed in the system and had not been assigned an attorney. The arrest followed the discovery of the vandalism, which included bubbles filling a fountain and “Clean hands dirty $" written in red paint. “Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” Pirro wrote. “Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals,” he said on Friday on his Truth Social site. “THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II." The Interior Department said that the U.S. Park Police were on the scene following the Thursday vandalism and an investigation was ongoing. "The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act,” the department said. The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a nonprofit organization that helps maintain the site, said: “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 Veterans of Foreign Wars called the vandalism “an act of profound disrespect, a slap in the face to the veterans who served and sacrificed and to the families who carried that burden at home.” The World War II Memorial is just east of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the Mall. After a botched repair job earlier this year left the pool with peeling blue sealant and green algae, Trump blamed the issues on vandalism without providing evidence. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he slipped away from Air Force One after a trip last month in Turkey because the Secret Service and military wanted him on a “different plane” due to a threat that he insisted didn't scare him. NEW YORK (AP) — If you bought something from an overseas vendor last year, it might be time to check your bank account. WASHINGTON (AP) — A person has been arrested in connection with vandalism at The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. MEDINACELI, Spain (AP) — Millions of people crowded cloudless cities and towns in Spain on Wednesday in search of the best views of a total solar eclipse, when the alignment of the sun, moon and Earth briefly plunged parts of the planet into darkness. President Donald Trump secretly flew out of last month's NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on an alternate military aircraft while the White House made it appear that the Republican president was flying on Air Force One, according to a report published by The Washington Post on Monday. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln. An enduring conspiracy theory has resurfaced on social media after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia on Monday, with users blaming a research program in Alaska for the disaster. CHICAGO (AP) — First responders and utility crews worked overnight into Wednesday clearing roads from trees and wires that were downed during severe storms in the Midwest that unleashed tornadoes, heavy rains and flash flooding while knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers. Pushing through dense, shoulder-high brush near a river in west Michigan, a trooper yells out: “Make some noise!” WeatherThreat.com Closings WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he slipped away from Air Force One after a trip last month in Turkey because the Secret Service and military wanted him on a “different plane” due to a threat that he insisted didn't scare him. NEW YORK (AP) — If you bought something from an overseas vendor last year, it might be time to check your bank account. WASHINGTON (AP) — A person has been arrested in connection with vandalism at The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. MEDINACELI, Spain (AP) — Millions of people crowded cloudless cities and towns in Spain on Wednesday in search of the best views of a total solar eclipse, when the alignment of the sun, moon and Earth briefly plunged parts of the planet into darkness. President Donald Trump secretly flew out of last month's NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on an alternate military aircraft while the White House made it appear that the Republican president was flying on Air Force One, according to a report published by The Washington Post on Monday. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln. An enduring conspiracy theory has resurfaced on social media after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia on Monday, with users blaming a research program in Alaska for the disaster. CHICAGO (AP) — First responders and utility crews worked overnight into Wednesday clearing roads from trees and wires that were downed during severe storms in the Midwest that unleashed tornadoes, heavy rains and flash flooding while knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers. Pushing through dense, shoulder-high brush near a river in west Michigan, a trooper yells out: “Make some noise!”

Democracy Dies in Darkness By Liam Scott and Rachel Kurzius Part of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall was covered in soapy bubbles and red graffiti Thursday in an incident that the U.S. Park Police were investigating. Mountains of white suds appeared in and around the memorial’s fountain by the Atlantic Arch. What readers are saying The comments express outrage and suspicion regarding the vandalism of the World War II Memorial, with many questioning the effectiveness of the National Guard in preventing such incidents. Several commenters suggest the possibility of a false flag operation orchestrated by the... Show more This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments. Comments 662 Related Articles Gregory S. Schneider How artists want to use a melted Robert E. Lee statue to heal a wounded city May 23, 2026 Gregory S. Schneider Richmond’s new memorials expose hidden history beyond the Confederacy September 7, 2025 Kelsey Ables and Katie Tarrant Conservative push for Charlie Kirk statues revives debate on memorials October 8, 2025 Jake Spring National parks remove signs about climate, slavery and Japanese detention September 20, 2025 Dan Diamond Trump officials unveil designs for president’s controversial 250-foot arch April 10, 2026 Jake Spring Trump dramatically shrinks two national monuments in the West — again July 13, 2026 View 3 more storiesView 3 more stories 5.61.2 !pixel Already a subscriber? Sign in Get unlimited access to The Washington Post Unlimited access on the web and in our apps * 24/7 live news updates One week £5 one-time payment Monthly £2 every four weeks For the first year. Cancel anytime. Add your email address View more offers

World War II Memorial vandalism suspect arrested, facing felony charges A woman accused of spray painting the World War II Memorial and filling its fountain with bubbles has been arrested, according to Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Melissa L. Farris will be charged with depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans' memorials, Pirro said in a post on X. Each offense carries penalties of up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Pirro shared images of the suspect, with one of the photos showing her spray red paint on the memorial. "Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom," Pirro said. "Those Americans include my father and grandfather." It's unclear if Farris has an attorney. Red graffiti spray painted onto the memorial Thursday, Aug. 13, spelled out "Clean hands dirty $." Green spray paint was also used on the memorial, and the fountain was seen bubbling over with suds. After the incident, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to call the act the greatest "insult to those American heroes who died in World War II." His comments were echoed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which referred to the vandalism as "disgraceful." "Defacing this memorial with graffiti and paint and dumping soap into its fountains is not an act of expression. It is an act of profound disrespect, a slap in the face to the veterans who served and sacrificed and to the families who carried that burden at home," VFW National Commander Cory Geisler said in a statement. "It is an especially painful insult to the few remaining World War II veterans still with us today." Geisler said the VFW supports the prosecution of the memorial's vandal, writing in the statement that it expects accountability. By Friday morning, the memorial had been cleaned up and was open to the public.

A woman is in custody Friday morning and charged in relation to the graffiti left at the World War II Memorial on Thursday. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said on social media they have Melissa Farris in custody on two felony charges. The charges of Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The phrase “Clean hands, Dirty $” appear in light pink on the part of the memorial facing Constitution Avenue in D.C. Bubbles could also be seen forming on the inner portion of the memorial. As of Thursday at 6 p.m., a large row of Park Police cars lined the sidewalk near the memorial, facing 17th Street. The area is surrounded by police tape on several sides. “It’s a travesty,” Ben Pauwels of Springfield, Virginia, said. “It’s really sad. Over 400,000 Americans gave their lives during World War II, the Greatest Generation. It’s when a country united for a common cause, and it’s really sad to see.” In a statement, an Interior Department spokesperson said the vandalism “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, according to the statement, “should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act.” Aubrey O’Malley, visiting D.C. from Minnesota, was walking around with her two boys and heard that someone vandalized the monument. “It’s very disrespectful,” O’Malley said. “This is our first trip here. It’s been a lifelong dream for me to come here with my children, and how sad to see something like this and something can be destroyed in a little bit of time. But it’s heartwarming to see how quickly they’re at it and cleaning it up.” Matthew Murphy, meanwhile, walked by the memorial and said it’s “disgraceful, really. Such a historic monument being vandalized for no reason whatsoever. It’s terrible to see.”