9/11 Memorial Targeted As Vandals Strike Plymouth A Second Time

PLYMOUTH, MA — For the second time in about a week Plymouth officials were forced to clean up and question why vandals chose to target a town landmark. A 9/11 memorial was found broken and spray painted on Sunday after Plymouth Rock another historic spots were damaged during a graffiti spree last weekend.

The latest case of vandalism included a police statue at the memorial being knocked over and broken.

"Plymouth will once again rally against those who vandalize and disrespect public property," Plymouth Town Manager Melissa Arrighi said on Monday morning. "Our beautiful 911 Memorial will be repaired soon. Thanks to everyone who reached out to help."

Cleanup efforts on the latest damage quickly began on Sunday with more work to repair the broken police officer statue on Monday. More than 25 Plymouth Local Firefighters Union 1768 members were on hand to help with repairs on Monday.

"They can knock us down, but we will always get back up even stronger. We are firefighters. We never forget," Plymouth Local 1768 posted on social media early Monday afternoon.

Former Plymouth Selectman Dick Quintal funded the 9/11 memorial 19 years ago after the September 11 attacks. First responders were honored with statues of a firefighter, which was spray painted, and the police officer that was damaged.

"Despite these senseless and despicable acts, our community has shown once again that the people of Plymouth will rally behind one another to do what is right," Chief Edward Bradley said. "I am so proud of our firefighters who took the time to not only fix the damage that was done to our Sept. 11 Memorial, but to give the site a needed face lift with fresh mulch and new American flags."

Triumph Masonry, Restoration & Waterproofing of Wareham has offered to repair the police officer statue that was knocked over and broken, as well as the restore the firefighter statue that was vandalized. TL Edwards, of Avon, donated mulch and Kingston Block, of Kingston, donated stone dust to the repairs.
"All signs of the vandalism have been cleaned up and I want to thank the Plymouth Firefighters Local 1768 for their efforts and the folks at Triumph Masonry, TL Edwards and Kingston Block for their generous donations," Chief Bradley said.

The Plymouth Department of Public Works, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and a local volunteer moved quickly on Presidents Day to clean up vandalism to some of the town's most historic monuments and landmarks. Graffiti was spray painted on several of the monuments — including the "1620" inscription on the iconic Plymouth Rock.

Arrighi last week thanked the hard work of volunteer Jake Mowles, of East Coast Power Washing, for helping restore the Bench at Brewster Gardens that was presented to Plymouth by the National Society of Daughters of the American Colonists in 1923. The DCR Forefather's Monument and flooring of the Half Shell Band Stand were also among the landmarks hit last week.

The vandalism comes as the town plans a year of celebration of its 400th anniversary as the "Birthplace of America."

While the acts of vandalism are similar, Plymouth Board of Selectman Chair Ken Devora told WCVB-TV that police told him it is not certain there is a connection between them.

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Plymouth Rock Vandalized Ahead Of 400th Anniversary Celebration