Vandals in recent weeks have been targeting Fall River's Iwo Jima monument at Bicentennial Park.

FALL RIVER — Vandals in recent weeks have been targeting Fall River’s Iwo Jima monument at Bicentennial Park.

Over the past few months, people have damaged two light fixtures on the grass adjacent to the monument. They also smashed a light on top of the iconic sculpture that illuminates the outlines of the six Marines who raised the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.

Last week, the suspects even smashed a plastic enclosure that stored a Purple Heart Medal and a vial that contained sand from Iwo Jima.

“This has just been an ongoing problem. Some people just have no respect for anything,” said Bruce Aldrich, commandant of the Marine Corps League of Somerset.

“People just don’t know how lucky Fall River is to have that monument there,” Aldrich said.

The 30-foot bronze and granite monument rests in the park on the city’s waterfront. The names of hundreds of veterans have been imprinted on bricks and benches surrounding the memorial. Ceremonies are routinely held at the monument’s base on holidays such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

The Fall River monument was dedicated in 2005. It is based on the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial national monument in Arlington, Virginia. There are other similar statues around the country, including Hawaii, South Carolina, Florida and Texas.

Aldrich said the vandalism has been reported to the Fall River Police Department, and he hopes that anyone who sees suspicious activity around the monument will call police.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Fall River Police Department’s Major Crimes Division at 508-324-2796, or call the police department’s anonymous tips line at 508-672-TIPS.