Vietnam Memorial In Boston's Fenway Rose Garden Vandalized

BOSTON (CBS) – Boston Police are trying to find out who sprayed red paint on the Vietnam War memorial in the Fenway's Rose Garden.

The vandalism was discovered Thursday and the cleaning began Friday morning.

Robert Santiago, the city's Commissioner of Veterans Services, told WBZ-TV he was heartbroken to see the vandalism.

"For anybody to do this—as a veteran—as a commissioner – as an American – it really ticks me off," he said. "It's just frustrating. I don't know what people are thinking, why they are doing this to memorials, but this is sacred land."

Santiago said crews were able to remove the paint from the marble but were unsure if it would come out of the etched lettering.

Nearby memorials for the Korean War and World War II were untouched.

Santiago said this reminded him that the Vietnam memorial in Dorchester was hit by vandals in 2019.

"I don't know if they are pinpointing the war memorials themselves or just random acts of stupidity." He said people needed to be educated on what the memorials are all about.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call police.