A village in New York awoke to find its Sept. 11 memorial honoring five firefighters who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks had been vandalized.
The destruction was discovered early Wednesday morning in Washingtonville, New York, where about 6,000 people live. Police Chief Brian Zaccaro told the Times Herald-Record that those responsible for the vandalism appeared to use a tool to cut down a flagpole a few feet from its base.
Zaccaro said the culprits left a message scrawled across the part of the flagpole that was still standing, although he declined to comment on what the message said, citing the early stages of the investigation.
Washingtonville Mayor Joseph Bucco said a reward of up to $3,000 is being offered for information about the incident or about the person or persons responsible. Bucco said that because the memorial is so popular in town, the destruction likely happened late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, when fewer people would be around.
“There’s always someone sitting on those benches, from morning until night,” the mayor said.
In addition to damaging the 9/11 memorial, investigators believe that the suspect or suspects also pushed down a sign for St. Mary’s Parish Center that was located about a half-mile away. A figure of an eagle that had been affixed to the top of the flagpole was discovered near the damaged church sign.
Republican Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, who represents the village in the state legislature, condemned the “depraved desecration” of the memorial and the parish center’s sign, calling the vandalism “indefensible.”
“These two locations mean so much to Washingtonville and the larger community. The 9-11 Memorial is where we go as a community to honor, reflect, and remember the brave heroes who sacrificed their lives combating terror on our own soil,” Schmitt said in a statement. “The person or persons responsible must face the full force of law and swift punishment.”
There were no surveillance cameras set up that would have recorded the vandalism at the memorial, although Bucco said cameras may now be installed as a result of the incident. Schmitt posted a photo on Twitter of a group of people he said were watching over the memorial after its flagpole was cut down.
“Good out of evil. These young men, who are members of Monell Engine Company and JROTC, have stood guard all day through the elements and will keep watch of the 9-11 Memorial around the clock tonight after last nights desecration. I am so proud of them,” he said. “The memorial has a temporarily fixed flag. God bless America and our 9-11 heroes. Never forget.”
The memorial has a temporarily fixed flag. God bless America and our 9-11 heroes. Never forget.
— Colin Schmitt (@colinschmitt) July 9, 2020
