Veterans Patrol to Halt Memorial Vandalism

PHILADELPHIA, April 8 /PRNewswire/ — Veteran volunteers will be patrolling the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial as part of an aggressive campaign to halt the vandalism and destruction at the Memorial, starting next week and continuing through Memorial Day.

A press conference, attended by some of those volunteers, will be held at the Memorial on Wednesday, April 14, at noon where more detail will be provided about the patrols and other measures to halt the vandalism from skateboarders and inline skaters, who have actually been destroying devices designed to halt such activity.

“It’s turned into a game for these kids. We are going to do everything within the limits of the law to catch and aggressively prosecute these offenders,” noted Terry A. Williamson, president of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which provides oversight at the Memorial in cooperation with the Fairmount Park.

Three juveniles from the Philadelphia suburbs were apprehended March 7 by police who have charged them with desecration of a memorial, a third degree felony that is punishable by fines and imprisonment.

“Part of our message is targeted to the parents who drive into the city and drop these kids off to skateboard without regard to public or private property,” Williamson said. “We want them to know that they will be arrested and charged. But what’s most distressing is that the juveniles and the parents who should know better don’t seem to care that they are violating hallowed ground that is sacred to veterans of all wars, not just Vietnam.”

Coordinating the Veteran activities will be Dennis Best, vice president of the Memorial Fund, assisted by James Moran, Memorial Custodian. Veterans wishing to volunteer can call the Fund at 215-576-1216.

The Memorial Fund last fall completed the first phase of its “Duty to Remember” Campaign for the restoration and preservation of the Memorial at Spruce and Front Streets. The fund is working to raise $500,000 for the second phase which will involve creating an opening in the “wall of scenes” on the Spruce Street side of the Memorial to make it easier for police to spot offenders and also create greater awareness at the enclosed site. For more information, visit www.pvvm.org. The Memorial honors the 646 Philadelphians who were lost in the Vietnam War.

SOURCE Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund