Veterans 'Honor Roll' Monument In Harrison Park Vandalized

HARRISON, NY — A monument that stands as a symbol of one Hudson Valley community's respect for generations of neighbors who were called to serve when their nation needed them most was disrespected and damaged under the cover of darkness and Harrison residents are demanding answers.

Nearly everyone from the parents with small children enjoying story time on the Harrison Library lawn to those out for a stroll at Ma Riis Park to veterans who arrived to survey the damage could point to a name on the Honor Roll Monument and tell stories about how duty and sacrifice touched the lives of more than four generations of family members, friends and neighbors.

Now, those memories have been marred by the contempt of an unknown vandal.

Three black Xs were sprayed across the names of veterans along with other markings over the monument. The overnight vandalism revealed more harm than just graffiti when the sun came up and a community began to share each other's pain.

It will take the expertise of specialists to repair the damage without permanently harming the monument, but the damage will be repaired. The insult to those who, in some cases, sacrificed everything will not be so easily fixed.

Community members who were feeling the sting of their loved ones' memories being trashed in this act of vandalism are asking those who live by the library to check home security cameras and contact the Harrison Police Department if the footage captured any suspicious activity.