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