Suspect Identified, Charged for World War II Memorial Vandalism in DC

The U.S. Park Police launched an investigation on Thursday after parts of a WWII memorial in Washington D.C. were vandalized.

A suspect has been identified by federal authorities for allegedly vandalizing the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Friday on X that two felony charges for depredation against property of the United States, and destruction of veterans' memorials, were being filed in federal district court against Melissa L. Farris. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in prison. Pirro said Farris was in custody.

"Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom," Pirro said. "Those Americans include my father and grandfather."

Farris is alleged to have covered a part of the WWII memorial on the National Mall with soapy bubbles and red graffiti on Thursday evening, according to photos taken at the scene and reported by various news outlets. The graffiti said, "Clean hands dirty $" beneath the Atlantic Arch, with red and green paint on the granite stonework.

The incident prompted an investigation on Thursday by the U.S. Park Police.

VSO Responds to Vandalism

In a Thursday statement responding to the vandalism, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) National Commander Cory Geisler said the organization "strongly condemns" the vandalism, which he called "disgraceful."

"It is difficult to comprehend that anyone would deliberately deface a sacred memorial dedicated to the 16 million Americans who served during World War II, including the more than 400,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice," Geisler said.

He said "defacing" the memorial was "an act of profound disrespect" and "a slap in the fact to the veterans who served and sacrificed and to the families who carried that burden at home."

Geisler called for an investigation into the incident and said that those responsible should be prosecuted. He also called for the National Parks Service to repair the damage to the memorial.

"These memorials are not backdrops for political statements, acts of vandalism or childish stunts. They are sacred places of remembrance that belong to every American," he said.

US Role in WWII

More than 16 million American military members served in World War II and over 400,000 of those died during the conflict, according to the National WWII Museum. The war lasted between 1939 and 1945.

The U.S. became involved in the conflict when, on Sept. 16, 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act, requiring all men between 21 and 36 to register with local draft boards. When the Axis attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the U.S. started actively supplying Allied nations.

The memorial was made in 2004, and it features 56 granite pillars around the edge of a plaza.

Police and local authorities blocked off the memorial with yellow police tape and government cars on Thursday evening.

The federal government said the vandalism "will not be tolerated" and announced their investigation.

“The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated,” read a statement on Thursday from the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service. “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.”