Chapter 131 Outraged at Vandalized Memorial

Berks County Vietnam Memorial

Chapter 131 recently set out to clean the Berks County Vietnam Memorial in Reading, PA only to discover that it has been damaged. 

Chapter members and the Reading Motorcycle Club were dismayed to find out that the memorial had trash strewn about it and showed signs of skateboarders abusing the memorial park space.

The two organizations were instrumental in designing and building the 29 year old memorial. The names of 62 Vietnam KIA and three Vietnam MIA residents of Berks County are engraved in the center of the memorial.

Berks County Vietnam Memorial's faceless infantryman.

Berks County Vietnam Memorial’s faceless infantryman.

The damage from the practice sessions of local skateboarders is evident by chipped stairs and edges, and wax buildup from the skateboards. The wax stains are difficult to remove, even after power washing the affected areas.

The defacement continues, even after ‘no skateboarding’ signs were posted. City Council has passed a measure targeting skaters, skateboarders, and bicyclists damaging a memorial structure on public property. The hard-to-remove wax was also explicitly prohibited. Vandals face a felony offense and payment for repairs to the memorial.

25th Anniversary service, September 2013

25th Anniversary service, September 2013

The issue of the vandalism affected members of Chapter 131 and the motorcycle club strongly because they wonder who will maintain the memorials or tell the stories of the names etched in stone once Vietnam veterans have passed away.




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