The article below is reprinted from the York Daily Record. For more information, please refer to this earlier blog entry (The Sad Damage & Needed Assistance)
Search Continues for Gettysburg Statue Vandals
In two cases, repairs prove difficult.
By ANGIE MASON
Daily Record/Sunday News
May 21, 2006 — Gettysburg park officials hope information about civil war monuments vandalized three months ago will turn up but have researched options to repair two of the statues if missing pieces aren't recovered.
Gettysburg National Military Park officials have taken leads since three monuments - honoring the 114th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, the 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and the 4th New York Battery - were the targets of vandals Feb. 16, but are still looking for information to help lead them to the responsible party.
The Pennsylvania statue was fixed and returned to its base in March, and repairs to the historic cast iron fence around it are more than half finished, said Katie Lawhon, spokeswoman for the park.
Figuring out how to repair the other monuments has taken a little more investigation.
Internet research led to a monument in New Hampshire that contains an artilleryman identical to the one depicted in the New York monument at Gettysburg, where the statue's head and rammer were stolen, Lawhon said.
Although they hope the parts will be recovered, park officials could make a mold from the New Hampshire statue and cast new bronze parts, she said.
Repairing the Massachusetts monument, a carved granite arm holding a sword, is proving more challenging. The arm was shattered and parts, including the sword, stolen.
The park already had a pattern for the bronze sword, which had been stolen before. However, the arm is harder to replace.
"Sculpting the new granite arm will be very difficult without a model," Lawhon said, noting that the park has even tracked down descendents of the original granite company that made the statue but couldn't find a useful model.
"We're sort of still hoping something will come to light on that," she said.
A $36,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the vandals is still being offered.
"We're still hearing from people anxious to see justice served," said Dru Anne Neil, spokeswoman for Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg, which contributed $30,000 to the reward fund. "We just hope somewhere somebody knows something."
Tourists can still visit the monuments. The Pennsylvania monument has a little red caution tape around the broken fence, Lawhon said, but otherwise looks "pretty darn good."
At the other two monuments, visitors can still read the inscriptions on the granite pedestals that once supported the statues, she said.
"There may be some visitors who aren't aware a figure is missing," she said.
Seeking tips
Anyone with information about vandalism to monuments at Gettysburg National Military Park can call the park at (717) 334-0909 or Adams County Crime Stoppers at 800-869-8057.
Respectfully,
Randy
Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com
All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved
Showing posts with label Vandalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vandalism. Show all posts
Monday, May 22, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
The Remaining Damage
The pictures included below show some of the remaining damage left to the two as yet unrestored monuments. Although the US National Park Service can likely replace the destroyed sections of each monument, the original pieces are now lost forever.
Above each picture of the damage, I have reposted pictures of each of the monuments prior to their desecration. These sad pictures tell the story all too well.
The 4th New York Artillery Monument and cannons.
Summer of 2005
Closer view of the 4th New York Artillery Monument.
Summer of 2005
The 4th New York monument's pedestal minus the damaged statue.
Notice the hole in the pavement where
the monument landed when toppled by vandals.
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer
National Park Staff examining the headless 4th NY Artillery statue.
Notice also the missing rammer from the statue's right hand.
Courtesy of the Gettysburg National Military Park
The 11th Massachusetts Monument.
Summer of 2005
The 11th MA monument immediately after the vandalism.
Notice the shattered pieces at its base.
Courtesy of the Gettysburg National Military Park
Close up of one destroyed segment of the monument.
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer
Sincerely:
Randy
Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com
All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved
Pictures courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Gettysburg National Military Park
Above each picture of the damage, I have reposted pictures of each of the monuments prior to their desecration. These sad pictures tell the story all too well.
The 4th New York Artillery Monument and cannons.
Summer of 2005
Closer view of the 4th New York Artillery Monument.
Summer of 2005
The 4th New York monument's pedestal minus the damaged statue.
Notice the hole in the pavement where
the monument landed when toppled by vandals.
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer
National Park Staff examining the headless 4th NY Artillery statue.
Notice also the missing rammer from the statue's right hand.
Courtesy of the Gettysburg National Military Park
The 11th Massachusetts Monument.
Summer of 2005
The 11th MA monument immediately after the vandalism.
Notice the shattered pieces at its base.
Courtesy of the Gettysburg National Military Park
Close up of one destroyed segment of the monument.
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer
Sincerely:
Randy
Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com
All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved
Pictures courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Gettysburg National Military Park
The Triumphant Return of the 114th Pennsylvania
The remounting of restored 114th PA Monument
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The least damaged of the recently vandalized monuments once again stands proudly back where it belongs. The United States National Park Service, showing their commitment to a quick but thorough restoration, has remounted the bronze statue of a 114th Pennsylvania Infantry Zouave Soldier on its pedestal where it once again will watch over the fields its men helped to defend on July 2, 1863. The 114th Pennsylvania fought with the Union Army's 3rd Corps under the command of Major General Daniel Sickles on the 2nd day of the Battle of Gettysburg. During this struggle, 9 men of the 114th lost their lives with 86 wounded and 60 captured.
The damaged 114th PA monument just 1 month ago.
Courtesy of the Gettysburg National Military Park.
During the battle's bloodiest day, the 11th Massachusetts lost 23 men killed and 96 men wounded. The 4th New York Artillery suffered 2 men killed and 10 wounded in their defense of the Devil's Den.
A recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer noted that, since the monuments were each over 100 years old, the Archeological Resources Protection Act dictates that the criminals, when caught, will face felony charges and possible 10 year prison sentence.
Sincerely:
Randy
Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com
All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved
Pictures courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Gettysburg National Military Park
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Vandalism Update Information
The Civil War Interactive, an outstanding on-line Civil War newspaper, has posted a page dedicated to the recent outrageous vandalism suffered by several of the parks revered monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield. This page includes a variety of information including a video of park service personnel discussing the damage and some very sad views of the monuments themselves.
Civil War Interactive
Sincerely;
Randy
Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com
All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved
Civil War Interactive
Sincerely;
Randy
Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com
All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
The Sad Damage & Needed Assistance
The Gettysburg National Military Park kindly provided these tragic pictures of two of the three recently vandalized, damaged monuments. (Additional information about these terrible acts of desecration can be found in the previous posts below.)
Gettysburg National Military Park Rangers Laurie Gantz and
Brion FitzGerald examine the damaged
114th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument.
The damaged 11th Massachusetts Monument.
Note the shattered pieces at the monument's
base. This is all that remains of the saber
wielding arm which had graced this unique treasure.
When asked, NPS staff said that those wishing to donate to help restore these monuments can write checks payable to "DOI/NPS" (without the quotation marks) and send them to:
Gettysburg National Military Park
97 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
If you wish to designate the money for a specific monument, please note the name of the monument on the check. According to NPS staff, contributing donations to the "General Maintenance for Monuments" fund allows greater flexibility to address all repairs or replacements. And certainly, all donations are greatly appreciated. Having seen first hand the NPS' previous efforts at restoring other damaged monuments, I can say that they do excellent work.
Respectfully submitted,
Randy
Gettysburg National Military Park Rangers Laurie Gantz and
Brion FitzGerald examine the damaged
114th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument.
The damaged 11th Massachusetts Monument.
Note the shattered pieces at the monument's
base. This is all that remains of the saber
wielding arm which had graced this unique treasure.
When asked, NPS staff said that those wishing to donate to help restore these monuments can write checks payable to "DOI/NPS" (without the quotation marks) and send them to:
Gettysburg National Military Park
97 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
If you wish to designate the money for a specific monument, please note the name of the monument on the check. According to NPS staff, contributing donations to the "General Maintenance for Monuments" fund allows greater flexibility to address all repairs or replacements. And certainly, all donations are greatly appreciated. Having seen first hand the NPS' previous efforts at restoring other damaged monuments, I can say that they do excellent work.
Respectfully submitted,
Randy
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Former Glory
I thought I would include a few pictures of the recently vandalized monuments at the Gettysburg Battlefield (more information is below). Unfortunately, I'm still searching through my collection for a good picture of the 114th Pennsylvania Monument. However, included below are two of the beautiful monuments now permanently damaged. A very sad day indeed.
The 11th Massachusetts Infantry Monument
along the Emmitsburg Road.
The 4th New York Artillery, Smith's Battery
on Houck's Ridge.
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy
The 11th Massachusetts Infantry Monument
along the Emmitsburg Road.
The 4th New York Artillery, Smith's Battery
on Houck's Ridge.
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy
A Pattern of Senseless Destruction
Over the years, a combination of careless inattention, vandalism, and outright criminal activity have caused irreparable damage to the sacred monuments and markers at the Gettysburg Battlefield. These monuments, erected and dedicated mostly by the battle’s veterans, cannot be replaced. Despite the exceptional efforts of the National Park Service to restore any damage inflicted, the original monuments, or portions of them, are often forever lost.
Here is a brief chronology and listing of only some of the damaged treasures.
February 16, 2006:
The 114th Pennsylvania Monument (Dedicated in 1886): Torn from its pedestal and thrown to the ground damaging the monument and a wrought iron fence.
The 11th Massachusetts Monument (Dedicated in 1885): The upper granite portion of the monument was thrown from it’s base, the arm irreparably shattered and the sword stolen.
The 4th New York Battery Monument (Dedicated in 1888): Torn from its pedestal and dragged more than 160 feet causing extensive damage. The perpetrators severed and stole the monument’s head.
Total damages estimated at about $75,000.
January 18, 2005:
8th Pennsylvania Cavalry Monument (Dedicated in 1890): Bronze sword stolen.
Total damage estimated at $3,000
September 15, 2004:
Alexander Hays Monument (Dedicated in 1915): Bronze sword stolen.
Total damage estimated at $1,200
May 2004:
58th New York Monument (Dedicated in 1888): Hit by car. The driver hit the monument so hard that she broke her ankle.
Total damage estimated at $20,000
May 2004:
Granite marker on Reynolds Avenue: Backed over by a school bus.
Total damage estimate unknown
March 3, 2004:
4th Ohio Right Flank Marker (Dedicated in 1887) and two granite fence posts: Destroyed by a driver who lost control of a pick-up truck. The marker was damaged beyond repair.
Total damages estimated at between $5,000 and $10,000
November 12, 2003:
74th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument (Dedicated in 1888): Driver hit the monument after losing control of her SUV. The monument was broken it into several pieces large and small.
Total damages estimated at between $15,000 and $20,000
October 21, 2003:
Battery E, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Cannon Carriage (Dedicated in 1896): Shattered by a hit and run driver after he plowed down 80 feet of fencing. Unknown persons stole parts of the broken cannon carriage, which was slightly over 100 years old, before National Park Service staff could collect them all.
Total damages estimated at between $10,000 and $13,000
November 1999
17 Monuments Vandalized: Vandals poured oil over 17 monuments threatening permanent discoloration.
Total damages estimated at over $4,000
July 1999
90th Pennsylvania Monument (Dedicated in 1888): Thieves stole several pieces of bronze ornamentation from the monument including a knapsack and a rifle.
Total damages estimated at over $12,900
Respectfully submitted,
Randy
Here is a brief chronology and listing of only some of the damaged treasures.
February 16, 2006:
The 114th Pennsylvania Monument (Dedicated in 1886): Torn from its pedestal and thrown to the ground damaging the monument and a wrought iron fence.
The 11th Massachusetts Monument (Dedicated in 1885): The upper granite portion of the monument was thrown from it’s base, the arm irreparably shattered and the sword stolen.
The 4th New York Battery Monument (Dedicated in 1888): Torn from its pedestal and dragged more than 160 feet causing extensive damage. The perpetrators severed and stole the monument’s head.
Total damages estimated at about $75,000.
January 18, 2005:
8th Pennsylvania Cavalry Monument (Dedicated in 1890): Bronze sword stolen.
Total damage estimated at $3,000
September 15, 2004:
Alexander Hays Monument (Dedicated in 1915): Bronze sword stolen.
Total damage estimated at $1,200
May 2004:
58th New York Monument (Dedicated in 1888): Hit by car. The driver hit the monument so hard that she broke her ankle.
Total damage estimated at $20,000
May 2004:
Granite marker on Reynolds Avenue: Backed over by a school bus.
Total damage estimate unknown
March 3, 2004:
4th Ohio Right Flank Marker (Dedicated in 1887) and two granite fence posts: Destroyed by a driver who lost control of a pick-up truck. The marker was damaged beyond repair.
Total damages estimated at between $5,000 and $10,000
November 12, 2003:
74th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument (Dedicated in 1888): Driver hit the monument after losing control of her SUV. The monument was broken it into several pieces large and small.
Total damages estimated at between $15,000 and $20,000
October 21, 2003:
Battery E, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Cannon Carriage (Dedicated in 1896): Shattered by a hit and run driver after he plowed down 80 feet of fencing. Unknown persons stole parts of the broken cannon carriage, which was slightly over 100 years old, before National Park Service staff could collect them all.
Total damages estimated at between $10,000 and $13,000
November 1999
17 Monuments Vandalized: Vandals poured oil over 17 monuments threatening permanent discoloration.
Total damages estimated at over $4,000
July 1999
90th Pennsylvania Monument (Dedicated in 1888): Thieves stole several pieces of bronze ornamentation from the monument including a knapsack and a rifle.
Total damages estimated at over $12,900
Respectfully submitted,
Randy
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Vandalized Monuments - A Plea for Help
National Park Service Asks Public for Information.
Gettysburg National Military Park is looking for information related to the vandalism of Civil War monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield damaged during the night of February 15, 2006 or the early morning hours of February 16, 2006. Vandals pulled the top stone and sculpture off of the 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Monument, dedicated on October 8, 1885. The 11th Massachusetts monument is located on Emmitsburg Road at the intersection of Sickles Avenue. Vandals pulled down the bronze sculpture of a Zouave infantryman from the pedestal of the 114th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Monument, dedicated on July 2, 1886, located at the Sherfy house on Emmitsburg Road. The figure landed on a decorative iron fence that was also damaged.
The 114th PA Monument
thrown to the ground
Vandals also pulled the bronze sculpture of a Civil War Artilleryman from the monument to Smith's battery, also known as the 4th New York battery, located on Devil's Den. The Smith's battery monument was dedicated July 2, 1888.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the National Park Service at 717/ 334-0909. Anyone with any information is asked to call the National Park Service at 717/ 334-0909.
Contact Information
Katie Lawhon | (717) 334-1124
Laurie Gantz | (717) 334-0909
*********************************************
For more information, please see the related article below.
*********************************************
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy
Gettysburg National Military Park is looking for information related to the vandalism of Civil War monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield damaged during the night of February 15, 2006 or the early morning hours of February 16, 2006. Vandals pulled the top stone and sculpture off of the 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Monument, dedicated on October 8, 1885. The 11th Massachusetts monument is located on Emmitsburg Road at the intersection of Sickles Avenue. Vandals pulled down the bronze sculpture of a Zouave infantryman from the pedestal of the 114th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Monument, dedicated on July 2, 1886, located at the Sherfy house on Emmitsburg Road. The figure landed on a decorative iron fence that was also damaged.
The 114th PA Monument
thrown to the ground
Vandals also pulled the bronze sculpture of a Civil War Artilleryman from the monument to Smith's battery, also known as the 4th New York battery, located on Devil's Den. The Smith's battery monument was dedicated July 2, 1888.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the National Park Service at 717/ 334-0909. Anyone with any information is asked to call the National Park Service at 717/ 334-0909.
Contact Information
Katie Lawhon | (717) 334-1124
Laurie Gantz | (717) 334-0909
For more information, please see the related article below.
*********************************************
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Desecration
If you have any information concerning these despicable, unconscionable crimes, please notify the National Park Service. And please, if you have a blog or web site, post a link to this article or post one of your own with the NPS contact information. The more widespread the search, the more likely the apprehension of these pathetic, thoughtless, idiots.
From The Boston Globe
Three Gettysburg battlefield monuments vandalized
February 16, 2006
GETTYSBURG, Pa. --Monuments honoring Civil War soldiers from Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts were damaged late Wednesday or early Thursday morning, Gettysburg National Military Park officials said.
The head of a sculpture was stolen on Devil's Den, a rocky part of the battlefield, and a sword was taken from a second memorial. A third marker's sculpture landed on a decorative iron fence, which also was damaged.
"It's terribly sad, and the monuments were put there by the veterans and survivors of this battle. So what's happened is, it's their memory that is vandalized," said park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon.
The bronze sculpture of an artilleryman from the monument to Smith's Battery, also known as the 4th New York Battery, was dragged from its place and its head was removed and is missing, Lawhon said.
The top stone and sculpture from the 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Monument were toppled, and a sword was stolen from it.
Also, the vandals pulled down a bronze sculpture of a Zouave infantryman from the 114th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Monument, and a fence was damaged when it fell.
Thieves have damaged park monuments three times in the last year-and-a-half. They also stole a bronze sword from a Pennsylvania cavalry marker in January 2005 and a sword from the monument to Alexander Hays in September 2004. Those crimes have not been solved.
Bronze markers, including state seals, also are occasionally stolen from the park.
Motorists also have taken a toll on the park's historical objects in recent years. Drivers crashed into the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry right flank marker in 2004, and destroyed a cast-iron cannon carriage and damaged the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument in separate 2003 incidents.
The 6,000-acre park houses some 1,300 monuments to the tide-changing July 1863 battle between the Union and Confederate armies.
Respectfully submitted,
Randy
From The Boston Globe
Three Gettysburg battlefield monuments vandalized
February 16, 2006
GETTYSBURG, Pa. --Monuments honoring Civil War soldiers from Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts were damaged late Wednesday or early Thursday morning, Gettysburg National Military Park officials said.
The head of a sculpture was stolen on Devil's Den, a rocky part of the battlefield, and a sword was taken from a second memorial. A third marker's sculpture landed on a decorative iron fence, which also was damaged.
"It's terribly sad, and the monuments were put there by the veterans and survivors of this battle. So what's happened is, it's their memory that is vandalized," said park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon.
The bronze sculpture of an artilleryman from the monument to Smith's Battery, also known as the 4th New York Battery, was dragged from its place and its head was removed and is missing, Lawhon said.
The top stone and sculpture from the 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Monument were toppled, and a sword was stolen from it.
Also, the vandals pulled down a bronze sculpture of a Zouave infantryman from the 114th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Monument, and a fence was damaged when it fell.
Thieves have damaged park monuments three times in the last year-and-a-half. They also stole a bronze sword from a Pennsylvania cavalry marker in January 2005 and a sword from the monument to Alexander Hays in September 2004. Those crimes have not been solved.
Bronze markers, including state seals, also are occasionally stolen from the park.
Motorists also have taken a toll on the park's historical objects in recent years. Drivers crashed into the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry right flank marker in 2004, and destroyed a cast-iron cannon carriage and damaged the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument in separate 2003 incidents.
The 6,000-acre park houses some 1,300 monuments to the tide-changing July 1863 battle between the Union and Confederate armies.
Respectfully submitted,
Randy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
