Although plywood still covers the graffiti on the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, one section has been removed, and orange cones have shown up on the east steps. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:15 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
The front (south) side of the Eternal Light Peace Memorial has had the material covering some graffiti removed, although the graffiti has not been completely removed. Orange cones have also shown up at the section on the east steps, and a section of plywood near the east steps has been pulled away from the monument. These are signs that work is beginning on cleaning the graffiti off the monument. As others have noted, it would be nice to have the work completed before Memorial Day.
Thanks to Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Truman Eyler for sending us these articles.
Here’s how the south side of the monument looked soon after it was vandalized, and the Park Service covered up most of the words and symbols. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:15 PM on Friday, January 9, 2009.
Here’s how the south side of the monument looked today. The covering has been removed, and a lot of the graffiti has been removed… This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, May 17, 2009.
… but not all of it. You can still make out the words and the graphic symbol. This view was taken facing north at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, May 17, 2009.
Another view of this same area of the monument in January. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:15 PM on Friday, January 9, 2009.
The same view today. You have to know what you’re looking for on the monument to see the graffit, and unfortunately, we do. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, May 17, 2009.
Hopefully they will continue cleaning and completely remove the graffit. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, May 17, 2009.
Work is also beginning at the graffiti on both sides of the east steps. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:15 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
Part of this piece of plywood near the east steps has been pulled away from the monument. It has not been completely removed, so that visitors cannot easily see the obscenities underneath it. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:15 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
The plywood is attached to the monument by screws. At first glance one may wonder why they would attach the plywood to the monument with screws. Especially a monument that they have not yet cleaned because they are concerned about how the cleaning materials will affect the granite. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:15 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
But they did not attach the screws to the granite… This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:15 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
…they attached the screws to the joints. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:15 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
The Eternal Light Peace Memorial was vandalized by spray paint on January 8, 2009. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:15 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
Saturday, May 16, 2009 marked 128 days since the incident. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:15 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
Over a third of the year. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:15 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
See the following related posts:
William Patterson House and Peace Light Updates on May 1, 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, 2008.
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.
Lots of Rain, No Eternal Flame on March 19, 2008.
