Confederate Tombstone Near Pan Am Shopping Center Defaced With Paint

FAIRFAX, VA — Vandals spray painted "CS", "NVA," and a Star of David on the tombstone of Armistead T. Thompson, which is located in the Thompson Family Cemetery near the intersection of Lee Highway and Nutley Street in Fairfax. The cemetery is adjacent to Pan Am Shopping Center.

Fairfax County police responded on Tuesday around 9 p.m., for the report of graffiti at the cemetery located at 9133 Lee Highway in Fairfax, according to an FCPD spokesman.

"Upon our arrival, officers spoke with the complainant who advised they saw the graffiti as they were leaving the shopping center," the spokesman said, in an email. "The officer spoke with property management and they are working to remove the graffiti."

Dating back to 1792, the Thompson Family Cemetery is privately owned and maintained. It contains many unmarked graves and only two tombstones, one for Thompson and the other for John Compton Tobin (1845-1904) and Amanda Abigail Tobin (1876-1904).

On Sunday afternoon, the spray paint on Thompson's tombstone had not yet be removed. Small flags had been placed at the bases of both tombstones, a Confederate flag for Thompson and an American flag for the Tobins.

Thompson was a member of the 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment of the Confederate States of America. Before joining the Confederacy, Thompson was a school teacher, according to MyCemetery.org. While a prisoner of war, he was diagnosed with typhoid fever and died on Nov. 23, 1864 at Point Lookout Prisoner of War Camp in Maryland.

In December, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a board matter submitted by Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik directing county staff to evaluate an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to consider additional development with a broader mix of uses for the Pan Am Shopping Center.

Federal Realty, which owns the shopping center, is developing a mixed-use concept to provide an enhanced retail experience and ensured long-term viability of the commercial center.

Among the many requirements in Palchik's proposal was for Federal Reality to follow the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan and respect the cemetery that sits to the north of its property.

Police aren't aware of any other incidents like this in the area, according to the spokesman. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the McLean District Station at 703-556-7750.

Related:

Pan Am Shopping Center Redevelopment May Be On The Horizon