Danville police had no leads or suspects as of press time for the vandals who scratched the granite surface of the Quotation Wall of the All Wars Memorial in Oak Hill Park sometime between April 16 and April 29. They also broke the small access door of the flagpole. The vandals, if caught, will be charged with a felony.
The memorial, which has been in the works for more than 10 years, is to be formally dedicated this Memorial Day.
The vandalism has left town officials and All Wars Memorial board members perplexed.
“I have no idea why someone would deface the new memorial. Obviously it would be someone who is ignorant as to the hard work and effort put into realizing the project after 13 years of planning and fundraising,” said Town Manager Joe Calabrigo.
When Mike Shimansky, a town council member who is vice chairman of the All Wars Memorial board, found out about the vandalism he rushed over to the park, he said. He wondered at first if the scratches were a political statement.
“Even though I felt bad, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” said Shimansky.
He inspected the Quotation Wall to see if the scratches meant anything. The only obvious marking he could find was the “not” scratched out in “Freedom is not Free.” But Shimansky believes it was done without a political agenda.
“I really think it was just done by people who didn’t appreciate what America has gone through. They did not think about what they were doing,” he said.
In the past, Memorial Day ceremonies were held in neighboring towns such as Pleasant Hill, Shimansky said, because there was nowhere to go in the San Ramon Valley to observe the day.
In 1991, the Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley lobbied for a local memorial. Shimansky took up the cause and thought Oak Hill Park would be the perfect spot. Danville donated the land for the memorial but years passed before the project gained momentum.
In 2003, the All Wars Memorial Foundation was established as a 501c3 charitable organization in order to raise money. Through donations and the sale of commemorative “pavers,” the foundation has been able to fund the estimated $1.7 million project.
The memorial sits in a bowl-shaped area right behind the pond at Oak Hill Park. The Quotation Wall has passages on freedom and war from the Declaration of Independence, patriots and presidents throughout American history etched on three large granite panels. A stone wall that will eventually display five bronze reliefs depicting different American wars winds around the hill next to a path of commemorative granite pavers. For $250 people can dedicate a paver to a veteran, an individual affected by war, or a military service or organization.
The memorial also has a large bronze sculpture titled “To the Healing Place,” depicting a soldier helping a wounded comrade to the top of the hill, where benches will encircle a flagpole that will be raised at all times. “The Healing Place” looks out onto the park and Mount Diablo.
The All Wars Memorial Foundation members planned to meet yesterday to discuss how to repair the memorial. Danville will take over its care and maintenance after the dedication ceremony on Memorial Day.
The damages by most accounts are minimal.
“I’ve been told by several others that it should be possible to polish out the scratches,” said Calabrigo.
Shimansky has already received two calls from Danville residents volunteering their buffing services. He has also heard from people who are interested in contributing to a reward to catch the vandals.
A reward is being considered, but has not yet been announced. Shimansky mentioned a reward of possibly $5,000.
The vandalism at the All Wars Memorial comes only weeks after a vandal used a BB or pellet gun to shoot out the windows in the building at the park. Calabrigo said all of the windows needed to be replaced at a cost of approximately $2,000.
“Preventative measures are being discussed and considered,” Calabrigo said.
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