Shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday, one of Kansas City’s "greatest treasures" – the National WWI Museum and Memorial was vandalized.The memorial’s “Dedication Wall” was defaced with red spray paint that said, “Glory to the fallen martyrs of El Frontòn, Callao, Lurigallcho- 6/19/86.” The text apparently is in relation to the 33rd anniversary of prison massacres in Peru that resulted in more than 200 deaths.The Kansas City Police Department said two men were seen defacing the memorial.“On the north side of the Liberty Memorial, suspects spray-painted sentiments about a 1986 conflict in Peru and a communist symbol,” Kansas City Police Chief Richard Smith said. “They painted large red X’s of the faces of the World War I generals. A passerby saw them and called police. The driver yelled at them, and they ran off.”Police said they believe this is the latest three other vandalism incidents perpetrated by the same people. Smith said police believe the same people also defaced a church, a bridge and a vacant building in different parts of the city early Tuesday.“We're saddened by the act of vandalism this morning on the Memorial, built to honor our men and women who served,” the museum said in a tweet. “We're extremely grateful to have the skillful Stephen Haith, owner of DSG Equipment and Supplies, volunteer to be here today to remove the vandalism at no cost.”Smith said police have solid leads and continue to investigate. Police continue to canvass the area for possible video evidence and encourage anyone with information to contact the TIPS Hotline online or call 816-474-8477.“This is America, and everyone is entitled to their political beliefs,” Smith said. “To desecrate the National World War I monument is both illegal and stupid. It insults the tens of thousands of men who gave their lives so that we might continue to have the right to express our political beliefs. Who knows what kind of oppressive government we might be living under had those men not given their lives?”

Shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday, one of Kansas City’s "greatest treasures" – the National WWI Museum and Memorial was vandalized.

The memorial’s “Dedication Wall” was defaced with red spray paint that said, “Glory to the fallen martyrs of El Frontòn, Callao, Lurigallcho- 6/19/86.” The text apparently is in relation to the 33rd anniversary of prison massacres in Peru that resulted in more than 200 deaths.


The Kansas City Police Department said two men were seen defacing the memorial.

“On the north side of the Liberty Memorial, suspects spray-painted sentiments about a 1986 conflict in Peru and a communist symbol,” Kansas City Police Chief Richard Smith said. “They painted large red X’s of the faces of the World War I generals. A passerby saw them and called police. The driver yelled at them, and they ran off.”

Police said they believe this is the latest three other vandalism incidents perpetrated by the same people. Smith said police believe the same people also defaced a church, a bridge and a vacant building in different parts of the city early Tuesday.

“We're saddened by the act of vandalism this morning on the Memorial, built to honor our men and women who served,” the museum said in a tweet. “We're extremely grateful to have the skillful Stephen Haith, owner of DSG Equipment and Supplies, volunteer to be here today to remove the vandalism at no cost.”

Smith said police have solid leads and continue to investigate. Police continue to canvass the area for possible video evidence and encourage anyone with information to contact the TIPS Hotline online or call 816-474-8477.

“This is America, and everyone is entitled to their political beliefs,” Smith said. “To desecrate the National World War I monument is both illegal and stupid. It insults the tens of thousands of men who gave their lives so that we might continue to have the right to express our political beliefs. Who knows what kind of oppressive government we might be living under had those men not given their lives?”

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Matthew Naylor, President and CEO of the @TheWWImuseum speaks out about graffiti vandalism found on the “Dedication Wall” this morning

The message has since been covered with a tarp...set to be power washed later this afternoon@KMBC pic.twitter.com/YKjB3thWwi — Keleigh Gibbs (@KGibbsKMBC) June 18, 2019

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.