U.S. Regulars Monument Vandalism and Red Cloth Update

On Monday, the National Park Service powerwashed the spray paint on the U.S. Regulars monument that was vandalized last week. One reason for powerwashing it now might be that the weather is mild, and it should be accomplished before the weather turns cold. This view was taken facing east at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

The spray paint on the U.S. Regulars Monument was powerwashed on Monday with some success. It would be difficult to tell by anyone who had not seen the lower, granite part of the monument before the vandalism to tell that it had been vandalized. However, the “Fox Die” part in the bronze plaque and the granite just below the bronze plaque is still visible.

The red cloths still remain on East Cavalry Field’s Michigan Cavalry Brigade monument, and on the Longstreet Observation Tower.

Here is the monument before it was powerwashed. This view was taken facing east at approximately 1:30 PM on Sunday, November 15, 2009.

The “Fox Die” defacing is still visible below the bronze and in the bronze plaque… This view was taken facing east at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, November 17, 2008.

But not as visible as it was before the attempted cleaning. This view was taken facing east at approximately 1:30 PM on Sunday, November 15, 2009.

Another reason that the National Park Service might have chosen to clean the monument relatively soon after its defacement is to discourage vandals that their handiwork will not be visible for very long. The National Park Service, in its own Preservation Brief from the Technical Preservation Services Branch, states in the first line of Bulletin #38: “Removing graffiti as soon as it appears is the key to its elimination–and recurrence.” This view was taken facing east at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

But if quick removal of vandalism “is the key to its elimination–and recurrence” one has to wonder when they visit East Cavalry Field’s Michigan Cavalry Brigade Monument… This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

…why the red cloth remains around the soldier’s neck over two weeks after it was placed there. Is it that difficult to bring a ladder and/or “bucket” vehicle to this area and “take down that scarf?” This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Sunday, November 17, 2009.

And as we would expect, the cloths still remain on the Longstreet Tower. These cloths were probably placed over the weekend. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 8:00 AM on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

See the following related posts:

Vandals Spray Paint U.S. Regulars Monument, Red Cloths Return on November 16, 2009.
Red Cloth Placed on East Cavalry Field’s Michigan Cavalry Brigade Monument on November 2, 2009.
Ball Placed Back on Top of Monument to Knap’s Pennsylvania Battery on July 9, 2009.
Peace Light Monument Mostly Cleaned of Vandalism on June 14, 2009.
It Has Now Been 145 Days Since the Peace Light was Vandalized on June 2, 2009.
153rd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument Update, and Peace Light Update on May 23, 2009.
Peace Light Cleaning Update: A Little More Progress on May 22, 2009.
Peace Light Cleaning Update: No Visible Progress on May 20, 2009.
Another Gettysburg Monument Vandalized on May 19, 2009.
Peace Light: Some Photographs Taken When the Vandalism was First Discovered on January 27, 2009.
Peace Light Monument Vandalism on January 10, 2009.
Eternal Light Peace Memorial Dedication Ceremony on January 1, 2009.
Red Cloths Finally Removed From Monuments on July 7, 2008.
Smith’s New York Battery Monument Still Awaits Restoration on May 31, 2008.
A New Type of Vandalism for Memorial Day on May 26, 2008.