WOODSTOCK, Ont. - Remembrance Day services in Woodstock were tarnished by the remnants of a swastika spray-painted overnight on the northwest side of the cenotaph.
Woodstock police chief Rod Freeman said he is calling on the public for help solve what he has called “a disgusting distraction” on the Victoria Park war memorial.
“I am certain that someone knows who is responsible for this despicable act of vandalism,” Freeman said.
Freeman said when the culprit is apprehended he will not only go before the courts he will also face a panel of veterans.
“We’ll bring this vandal before a small group of vets and they can describe their intent to the vets,” he said.
Woodstock has been plagued in recent months by vandalism involving swastikas and the word “Nazi” spray-painted on several public buildings including the art gallery.
But Freeman said he believes the cenotaph graffiti is not related to previous incidents.
“It’s another mindless individual,” he said.
Freeman said Woodstock police were alerted to the vandalism early Wednesday morning. City workers made it a priority to clean up, “out of respect for veterans.”
Branch 55 Woodstock Legion president, Howard Champeau, had to choke back tears when asked about the vandalism.
“It’s such a despicable thing I don’t understand why anybody would do a thing like that,” he said. “It really bothered an old veteran I can tell you that.”
“That’s something that should never, never happen,” he said.
Champeau noted similar vandalism had occurred on the air cadet building located on the grounds of the legion earlier this year.
Woodstock Mayor Michael Harding said he was “embarrassed, ashamed and angry” that the Nazi symbol had marred the Remembrance Day service.
“This is one of the most hated symbols, I think, in the world,” he said.
The vandalism was also duly noted by those conducting Remembrance Day Services at the cenotaph in Victoria Park.
Rev. Peter Grogan urged officials to do whatever it takes “to clean up this mess” on “the sacred stone.”
He also had a message for the culprit.
“As a Christian minister I would forgive you,” he said. “As an Irishman I would say you are the scum of the Earth."
to the CF Sgt who reported this!
!
