The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington was vandalized Thursday with soapy bubbles poured into a fountain and graffiti scrawled on the structure, prompting a federal investigation and strong condemnation from the U.S. government.
According to the Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service, red graffiti reading “Clean hands Dirty $” appeared on the Atlantic Pavilion area of the memorial, along with additional paint marks. Large amounts of soap or a similar substance were dumped into the fountain near the Atlantic Arch, creating mountains of white suds that overflowed the normally clear water.
U.S. Park Police responded to the scene Thursday afternoon, cordoning off the area with crime scene tape and keeping visitors away while the investigation began. Uniformed officers and National Guard troops were visible at the site as workers started cleanup efforts. The Interior Department called the vandalism “an utter disgrace” in a statement and vowed to identify those responsible.
“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 department said. “The vandalism that occurred 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 should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act.”
The memorial, dedicated in 2004, honors the 16 million Americans who served in the conflict and the more than 400,000 who died. An estimated 5 million people visit the site each year. A nearly $4 million renovation was completed in May after several months of work to update infrastructure, including fountain lighting.
Veterans groups quickly condemned the incident. The Veterans of Foreign Wars described it as “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 Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a nonprofit that helps preserve the site, called the vandalism unacceptable and said a national memorial should never be used as a canvas for such acts.
No arrests had been announced as of late Thursday, and police had not released a description of any suspects. The investigation remains active.
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