Photo: MATTHEW HATCHER / AFP / Getty Images
Authorities are searching for a man who allegedly defaced a monument at Gettysburg National Park. The incident occurred at the 44th New York Infantry Monument on Little Round Top, where the suspect reportedly etched initials into a bronze plaque. The defacement is believed to have happened between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., though it remains unclear if the initials are the suspect's own.
Park officials urge anyone with information to contact the National Park Service at 888-653-0009, assuring that tips will remain anonymous. The vandalism is part of a troubling trend, as other acts of defacement have been reported at the park recently. According to NPS reports, graffiti was found on boulders at Little Round Top and on the War Department Observation Tower in mid-August.
Park Superintendent Kristina Heister expressed gratitude for the park's preservation staff, who quickly restored the sites, allowing visitors to experience the park as intended. She emphasized the importance of public vigilance in protecting historic sites, stating, "We can't do it alone." The Gettysburg Borough Police Department is also investigating multiple acts of vandalism in the area.
If caught, the suspect could face penalties including up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $5,000, as per National Park Service guidelines. Little Round Top, a historic site from the Civil War, recently reopened to the public after two years of rehabilitation, making the vandalism particularly disheartening for park officials and visitors alike.