"Cleaning Accident" My Foot... UPDATE: It WAS Vandalism

UPDATE 9/17/07:
I've bumped this post to the top for this breaking news... Per the Washington Post the detective investigating the damage to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall has ruled that it WAS VANDALISM.

Sgt. Robert Lachance, a spokesman for the Park Police, said the investigation into the incident is continuing, but the detective on the case had ruled it an act of vandalism. Lachance said he could provide no more details because the probe is still underway.

They are still trying to clean the mess off the wall without damaging it any further but believe they can get the substance off the wall.

Park Service spokesman Bill Line said today that maintenance and preservation crews were still working to remove the stains and marks, but were proceeding with caution to avoid further damage. He said the crews were trying to avoid pushing any residue into cracks or grout in the stone.

Also in the news, Jan Scruggs, founder and President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, told the WaPo that the reward was up to $5000. Let's see if that draws out any of the cockroaches.
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Original Post 9/13/07...
No surprise here... The National Parks Service is "poo-pooing" the vandalism at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall this past weekend (see previous post here). This from Human Events...
Bill Line, Communications officer for the National Park Service - “It would be -- wrong -- to call this incident vandalism because we have not concluded the investigation, it is still ongoing. It would be premature and wrong to use the words vandal, or vandalism… It could have been an accident.”

According to a post at the Gathering of Eagles forum, it was simply a "cleaning accident"...

After several attempts, I was able to contact SGT Booker of the National Park Service (NPS), to check on the facts about the defacement of the Vietnam Wall last weekend. He explained it was a cleaning accident by a Park Ranger and NOT a defacement as was originally reported by the Vietnam Veterans of American (VVA). The NPS is regarding this as an accident instead of an act of vandalism or terrorism.

But then we have this Press Release from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

On Friday, September 7, National Park Service staff and volunteers discovered a light, oily and unidentified substance that was spilled over portions of some of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial’s panels and paving stones, with National Park Service (NPS) preservation and maintenance staff beginning the removal process immediately.

The United States Park Police has begun an investigation into the matter, and that investigation is ongoing. Until this investigation is completed, it is premature to speculate whether any intentional act was committed.

The NPS’ preservation and maintenance staff continues to work to remove the substance and believes it will be possible to remove the substance entirely.

So the mystery continues. Could the National Parks Service be trying to head off any possible confrontations during the protest/counter protest in DC this weekend? Probably but this lackadasical attitude is not going to sit well with the Veterans and their supporters. Anyone that sees the videos and pictures can tell that this was no "cleaning accident" - give me a break.

Good news though -

Jan Scruggs (founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund) told HUMAN EVENTS that if anyone has knowledge of who committed this act that the Foundation is offering $1000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Let's see if any "anarchists" turn on their own for a little cash...

Michelle Malkin has more about this story and about other monuments/memorials that have been defaced and vandalized. Is nothing sacred anymore?