Medal of Honor Memorial Defaced

[ZeroX]

http://www.indystar.com/articles/1/233086-8911-009.html

Medal of Honor Memorial defaced
Spray-painted obscenities and anti-government messages are also left on other surfaces along Downtown Canal route.

By Rob Schneider
[email protected]
March 30, 2005


Vandals left the Medal of Honor Memorial looking like it had been through its own battle Tuesday, and repairs are expected to take at least six weeks.

Memorial officials estimate repairs could cost $6,000 to $8,000 in materials alone.

"It's not so much the money, it's the fact that someone would do this dishonor to people who have gone above and beyond in protecting the rights of American citizens," said Susan Hanafee, a member of the IPALCO Foundation board responsible for the upkeep of the memorial on the Downtown Canal.

The attack on the memorial also upset and surprised visitors out enjoying the spring-like weather.

"It's shocking," said Harold Cleaver, 34, as his sons, Logan, 7, and Ethan, 6, moved through the memorial. Both children were old enough to understand the significance of the memorial, a series of green glass panels inscribed with the names of the soldiers who received the country's highest honor for bravery during war.

The Cleaver boys, who were visiting the memorial for the first time, "asked why would somebody do that," their father said.

One panel had a hole in it, while glass in a second panel was chipped. Each panel weighs about 200 pounds with glass that is one inch thick.

In addition, walls around the memorial were spray-painted with obscenities aimed at Gov. Mitch Daniels and President Bush, peace symbols and a plea to "legalize ganja," a reference to marijuana.

Melvin E. Biddle, of Anderson, also expressed disappointment over the attack on the memorial. His name is one of those listed on the glass panels, a tribute to his actions during the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.

"It's just a shame we have people like that," Biddle said.

The vandalism was discovered Tuesday morning and was the most serious act against the memorial since it was dedicated in May 1999.

The IPALCO Foundation has put up a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those involved.

Vandals also sprayed graffiti along an area of the canal that stretches from the National Collegiate Athletic Association offices to just east of the memorial.

The areas receiving the most damage included the memorial and the support columns and walls of the Indiana State Museum that face the canal.

The attack stood in stark contrast to the spirit of the memorial, which was designed to pay homage to the acts of ordinary men who did extraordinary things.

Created to look like glass sails that glow at night against the city's Downtown skyline as a backdrop, the concept of the memorial came from John Hodowal, the former chairman of IPALCO Enterprises. He, along with his wife, was overcome by images of these men after reading a story about a Medal of Honor gathering.

The dedication of the memorial was timed to coincide with the city's 1999 Memorial Day activities and drew nearly 100 Medal of Honor recipients and thousands of spectators.

Until Tuesday, the memorial had remained untouched, except for one instance when someone tried to steal one of its speakers, said Hanafee, the foundation board member. "People have respected it and treated it with the dignity it deserves," she said.

Hanafee said investigators will see if two security cameras in the area captured the vandalism.

Anyone with information is asked to call (317) 232-3142 and ask for Detective Scott Alexander.

:banghead:

 

[enfield303]

:banghead:

Tall Tree, Short Rope.

Problem solved

 

[Gordon Fink]

“It’s not so much the money, it’s the fact that someone would do this dishonor to people who have gone above and beyond in protecting the rights of American citizens,†said Susan Hanafee.…

Some are too quick to forget this fact when calling for summary punishment.

~G. Fink

 

[wasrjoe]

I personally think public canings are a good idea and constitutionally viable.

 

[jsalcedo]

Some are too quick to forget this fact when calling for summary punishment.

Could you elaborate?

 

[Missourigunner]

Drawing and Quartering is too good for the S.O.B's who perpurtrated(sp) this cowardly act. Whenever they are caught, in addition to stiff penalties from the Courts, They should be made to both publically and privately apologize to every living MOH winner as well as to the Members of the families of those deceased.

The "no-loads " who are responsible, shoulld also have to pay for repair.

 

[fjolnirsson]

Little $#%&*$%#!!!!

Public Caning is a great idea.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Some are too quick to forget this fact when calling for summary punishment.

I concur. Defacing a monument of this sort is despicable almost beyond words, but if we were to depart even a sixteenth of an inch from fundamental standards of American justice, we'd disgrace much, much more than a monument.

The creatures who were responsible for this need to be found, arrested, brought to court, tried fairly and squarely, and if found guilty, sentenced to severe punishment. I have full faith that's exactly what we'll do. I'm equally sure if we were to make a special exception for these creatures, we'd have dishonored American justice, which would be far more grotesque than spray-painting a bunch of marble.

In addition to their regular sentences, if I were the judge, I'd require the creatures to work many hundreds of hours in a military or veterans' hospital. They need to know the people they've mocked.

 

[spacemanspiff]

yeah SW,thats the PC answer......
but if all we gave was PC answers, we'd be no different than our neighbors to the north.

 

[PMDW]

God damn hippies.

 

[Bear Gulch]

I suggest tounge cleaning of VA bed pans

 

[Gordon Fink]

Could you elaborate?

Standing Wolf has already done so far more eloquently than I could.

~G. Fink

 

[Ivy Mike]

public lashing would be just fine. Worked in Starship Troopers by Rober Heinlien.

I wonder how many vets have offered their services (free of charge) to guard the memorial.

 

[EghtySx]

Deport em. Anyone who hates this country that much doesn't need to be here.

 

[Ala Dan]

What a cowardily act, defacing a memorial that so many Americans
gave their life for. The persons responsible for this senseless act
are worthless P.O.S.'s, that don't deserve to be a citizen of this
great country! Folk's this is America either " LOVE IT or LEAVE IT ",
but please do not dishonor her glory or the memories of our service
men and women who so gallanty served and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

 

[Old Fuff]

I will side with Standing Wolf and Mr. Fink on this one.

I am as outraged as anyone about this despicable act, and I would personally enjoy inflicting some of the solutions proposed by other posters.

However I respect the judgment of this country’s Founding Fathers, who went to great lengths to insure that punishment imposed, was punishment deserved, and was only inflicted after the course of due process of law, no matter how frustrating that might be.

The politically correct response to this would not be what Standing Wolf proposed, but rather a whine from the left-wing along the lines that everyone has a right to an opinion, and for the sake of diversity it is necessary to let the perpetrator(s) proceed regardless of what method they might choose. Besides anyone that protests war and warriors couldn’t be all that bad … :banghead:

Therefore let us wait and give the system a chance to work. It is my feeling the courts will not be gentle ...

 

[mete]

Send them off to live in North Korea !!

 

[homeka45]

I hope they catch and prosecute these pathetic cowards.

 

[model 649]

I concur these morons ought to be punished. Everyone gets what's coming to them, one way or the other. While we might not see it we may be fortunate to hear about it. What goes around, comes around(sometimes in the back of the head!) and this/these clown(s) will get theirs.
Josh

 

[Moondoggie]

Ahhhh, the rose colored glasses for the founding fathers. The nostalgic yearning for the kinder, gentler world of yesteryear.........

Ever heard of being "Tarred and feathered"???

How about being "Run out of town on a rail"????

Think the media today is out of hand? Do a little research on the personally & politically motivated rants in the newspapers aaallll the waaaayyy back to the founding of the republic, and before. Your attention is kindly invited to the killing of the former Secretary of the Treasury by the Vice President of the United States in a duel with pistols in the "good ole days". Over words.

My point? Protection of rights and due process is all swell and fine on paper, but sometimes the guy in the street just wants revenge. It's human nature and it's always been that way. Always gonna be that way, too.

The sad thing is that when I was the probable age of these miscreants, the absolute worst thing that could have happened to me would have been for my Old Man to snatch me up by the stacking swivel...no doubt in my mind he would have beat me to til his arms were tired! Nowadays, he'd be the one up on charges.

 

[Old Fuff]

>> Your attention is kindly invited to the killing of the former Secretary of the Treasury by the Vice President of the United States in a duel with pistols in the "good ole days". Over words. <<

But then what happened to the Vice President in question?

>> Protection of rights and due process is all swell and fine on paper, but sometimes the guy in the street just wants revenge. It's human nature and it's always been that way. Always gonna be that way, too. <<

And that is what the Founding Fathers (who were not always kind and gentle) were worried about. They agreed that "rule of law" was better then "rule by mob."

Given the strong (and justified) feelings on this incident, what if the wrong party or persons are accused?

 

[Moondoggie]

Nothing happened to Aaron Burr, Old Fuff...he went on to some shenanagins of a questionable nature in Louisiana, was tried for treason and acquitted, and died in 1834.

I agree that we should make sure we've got the right folks, but after the trial they should be publicly humiliated in some fashion that wouldn't cause permanent damage. Hence my references to tarring and feathering/riding a rail out of town. (Although I suspect that the former probably resulted in some deaths due to the state of medical science in those days.) Let them experience the public outrage first hand. Maybe put the fear of God in them. At least make them think twice next time. That would also satisfy the public's desire for "revenge".

 

[Delmar]

I'd like to see them walking point for an infantry squad, but I would not wish it on the other squad members. They really need to see up close and dangerous what it takes to earn the Honor.....

 

[CleverName]

My gut level reaction is a mix of horror and anger. The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen honored on the memorial are Americans we should all be proud of, no matter your current political views.

I cannot understand why anybody would deface this monument. But I hope that they are caught and put on trial. I don't always agree with President Bush, but I would never dare to dishonor this monument as some stupid protest.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

Simply unbelievable.