The monument to the 44th New York Infantry Regiment on Little Round Top. The piece of red cloth is tied to the top of the monument. This view was taken from the southeast facing northwest at approximately 1:45 PM on Monday, May 26, 2008.
In the last three or four weeks a new form of vandalism has appeared at Gettysburg National Military Park. Urban climbers have made their way to the tops of the 44th New York Infantry Monument on Little Round Top and the Pennsylvania Monument. To prove that they made it, they have tied a piece of red cloth to the monument. The National Park Service removed cloths in these locations a couple of weeks ago, but they have returned again. It is likely they are scaling the monuments late at night or very early in the morning. Perhaps they believe their accomplishments in climbing these structures are more important than the actions of the people memorialized by these monuments.
A closer view of the rag on the 44th New York Monument. This view was taken from the southeast facing northwest at approximately 1:45 PM on Monday, May 26, 2008.
The red piece of cloth is beneath the bronze statue at the top of the monument, “Goddess of Victory and Peace.” This view was taken from the southeast facing northwest at approximately 1:50 PM on Monday, May 26, 2008.
A closer view of the rag on the Pennsylvania monument. This view was taken from the southeast facing northwest at approximately 1:50 PM on Monday, May 26, 2008.