Venice Vietnam War Memorial Unveiled After Vandalism Repaired

VENICE, CA — A restored Vietnam War POW/MIA mural in Venice that had been vandalized was unveiled Monday.

Vandals sprayed a thick sheen of silver paint over most of the names on the mural on May 26, 2016, with four monikers among the names found at the scene, authorities said.

Though most, if not all, of the paint was removed by volunteers before Memorial Day 2016, the mural had no protective anti-graffiti coating so some of the original mural was destroyed in the process.

"Neighbors in Venice and veterans throughout the region were disgusted by the criminal defacement of this mural," said City Councilman Mike Bonin, whose district includes Venice.

"It took a focused and inclusive community effort to begin restoring the mural."

The mural was completed in 1991 and includes the names of 2,273 members of the armed forces counted as prisoners of war or missing in action for the Vietnam War. The words "You Are Not Forgotten" are on top of the mural.

City News Service; 2016 Photo credit: Jeff Nguyen/KCAL9