Volunteers and workers remove graffiti from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Dorchester



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He added that the cleaning had been facilitated by an anti-graffiti coating recently installed on the memorial, which more easily removed the swastika and other symbols written with a type of sharpie or magic marker .

"The memorial is perfect," said Zinck. "It's amazing, the response from the community we had. It's amazing, the community of Dorchester and the community around it. Companies have called to offer plants and help, all they can do. "

The gestures, he said, "warmed the heart". State soldiers and the Boston University campus police are investigating. No arrests have been reported.

"For me, the person who did this work has major problems to solve," said Zinck, adding that if he could speak with the manager, he would mention "resources that may help.

And on the bright side, the memorial "is fully set, ready for the Day of Remembrance," he said.

Vandalism has been widely criticized by many residents and public officials, including Francisco Urena, Secretary of Veterans Services.

"I am extremely disappointed and upset after learning for the second time in a year the vandalism at the Vietnam Memorial in Dorchester," wrote Urena in a message posted Thursday on Twitter. "Many people have and continue to honor the 79 sons of Dorchester who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War."

The vandalism occurred just a day after the repairs to the monument were completed after a previous degradation in October.

In addition to graffiti on Thursday, dozens of recent plantings of shrubs and flowers have been torn down and American flags have been removed and thrown into the water near the Memorial on the grounds of the University of Massachusetts in Boston. .

"My heart goes to the military families whose names appear on this memorial," tweeted Urena. "They and all the families of the deceased deserve our support for the upcoming Remembrance Day, our national day of remembrance and recognition."

He urged anyone with information about vandalism to "please call the UMass Boston Police at 617-287-6084 or the Massachusetts State Police at 617-740-7710."

Mayor Martin J. Walsh described vandalism as a "cowardly act".

"We will continue to work with all our partners to restore this memorial to veterans who sacrificed everything for our country," Walsh said in a statement.

The memorial on Morrissey Boulevard is on a grassy field across a cove of Boston University. The names of the deceased veterans are carved in stone, as well as the tribute: "Thanks to us, they will live forever!

Thursday night, near the monument, graffiti was visible on three stones. A swastika was scribbled, accompanied by the message "East India Tea Company".

Holes in mulch soil could be seen, probably marking the places where the plants were supposed to go before they were uprooted. Shrubs had been deposited on grass fields.

Vandalism was reported Thursday afternoon, shortly after Zinck went to the scene with his wife. The police told him, after viewing security footage, that they had been vandalized shortly after leaving at 12:45, he said.

During the October incident, the memorial was damaged by thrown bricks and a cut American flag.

UMass Boston installed a security camera at the site earlier this month.

Acting Chancellor Katherine Newman said Thursday in a statement that school officials were watching video footage and that they would "contribute to the investigation in any way possible".

The university is committed to paying $ 15,000 for the complete restoration of the memorial after the vandalism of it last fall. After this incident, UMass Boston employees worked to clean shrubs and debris. They recently returned to work on the landscaping, tightening the poles and hanging the flags on the site.

"UMass Boston is very proud of the veterans community on our campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods," Newman said in its statement. "I am horrified by this merciless and sad act of vandalism for the monument's veterans and their families who are still with us."


Steve Annear of Globe Staff contributed to this report. You can contact Travis Andersen at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.

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