Vandals target monument to War of 1812 battle

PUT-IN-BAY — The historic Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial at Put-in-Bay was vandalized recently and investigators are asking the public for information leading to those responsible.

The vandal or vandals climbed a 6-foot-high chain-link fence blocking off a construction area on or about May 13. The memorial has been undergoing renovations since April and is closed to the public for the rest of the year.

Special agents with the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch and U.S. Park Rangers are investigating the incident. Superintendent Barbara Fearon declined to say what the specific acts of vandalism were or what was damaged, citing the open investigation. She also would not disclose if the memorial has any form of security or cameras.

“As a national park, our mission is to protect and preserve these special places so they’re available for the enjoyment of every American and international visitor,” Fearon said. “So when something like this happens, especially at a place of remembrance and sacrifice, it’s very disheartening.”

The memorial is the final resting place for six officers who died during the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The three American and three British officers were interred Sept. 11, 1913.

Fearon said renovations to the 352-foot tall structure were only delayed a short time. Work to repoint the granite column and replace broken tile inside the memorial is still scheduled to be completed by the end of December.

Fearon said the vandalism will be repaired, although she didn’t know how much it would cost. She added that it isn’t the first time the memorial has been hit by vandals.

“A few years ago, the benches on the upper plaza of the memorial were turned over,” she said. “And we had some spray painting on the water side. That kind of activity has been low-level and the damage has been repairable.

“Hopefully, the people responsible for this understand the gravity of their actions,” Fearon said.