Normally, Mark Traylor would spend Father’s Day with his family relaxing.
But this year, he was busy repairing damage from a senseless act.
More than a year ago, Veterans of Foreign Wars Fred Needham Post 2669 broke ground on the Veterans Memorial Wall at the Port of Bremerton Waterfront Marina Park in Port Orchard.
But on Friday night, June 14, the 28-foot-long, 6-foot-high brick wall with room for nearly 1,200 veteran’s names was tagged with graffiti, along with lighting displays around the wall.
Not only was the memorial wall tagged with spray paint, but the new chalk wall, playground equipment and parking signs associated with the park were also targeted by vandals.
Two days later on Fathers’ Day, local VFW members and volunteers spent several hours cleaning up the wall and repairing the light fixtures.
The phrase “Make love not babys” (sic) was sprayed across the brick honoring local and area servicemen and women.
“This is a disgrace for someone to have done this,” said Traylor, who is the senior vice commander at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2669.
Damage on the wall and lights was estimated at about $1,500.
The graffiti was blasted off the wall with a high-powered hose and solvent cleaner. Black paint, used to fill in the etched names in the bricks was removed and then volunteers used thin brushes and paint to etch names back into the bricks that were defaced.
Traylor’s 17-year-old son, Aaron Thomas, was among the volunteers.
“They don’t deserve to have their names defaced,” said Aaron.
At the end of the cleanup, a special anti-graffiti coating was sprayed on the wall.
To help prevent further incidents, Traylor and other local VFW members plan to keep a closer watch on the wall.
Port Orchard police are investigating the incident.
The wall was designed a little more than three years ago by VFW member Joseph Hovey and his brother. Hovey, who passed away last year at the age of 66, never got to see his dream.
The wall was dedicated on July 4, 2012, coinciding with Port Orchard’s popular summer festival, Fathoms O’ Fun.
Bricks are available for $30 from the VFW, and serve as a way to recognize and honor veterans from all walks of the armed services; from over-seas military deployment to at-home reserves.
Within a mile of the memorial wall are three other memorial sites found within the City of Port Orchard.
On the flagpole in the center of the traffic triangle in front of city hall is a veterans plaque dedicated to those who have served. On the city courthouse foyer wall, there is a memorial with plaques honoring individual Kitsap County citizens who died during World War II.
The Veterans Living History Museum, which houses collections of all prior wars and conflicts including a display honoring many Kitsap County’s Medal of Honor recipients, is located nearby at 825 Bay St.