Authorities in upstate New York are searching for information on who vandalized a memorial for first responders to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The memorial, located in the city of Geneva, was coated in white spray paint. Paint covered the faces of firefighters raising an American flag that are depicted on the granite monument, while white streaks obscured the words “GOD BLESS AMERICA” emblazoned across the bottom of the shrine.
Sept. 11 first responder Andrew Stromfeld was working at ground zero in New York City following the attacks that killed thousands. He told WROC8 that the news was tough to hear.
“It brings it all back to us when more attention is played onto it by people doing damaging things, saying damaging things, it makes it a lot harder,” Stromfeld said. “Sometimes it might not be about their feelings but what they don’t take into consideration is what about the people that the monument means.”
Assistant City Manager Adam Blowers said authorities would not stop until the perpetrator of the vandalism is found.
“To see something like that is really tough because you know those people you see those people everyone day the firefighters the police officers EMTs all those first responders and to have the work that they do be treated that way is sort of unfortunate,” Blowers said.
