Roaddog, Smooth and Gilligan attended a meeting on April 14th regarding the vandalism problems they are having at the Philadelphia Vietnam Memorial...for news and information, visit the Philadelphia Vietnam Memorial website at http://www.pvvm.org

Vets to patrol Vietnam memorial
By DAVID GAMBACORTA
Philadelphia Daily News

Enough is enough.

With their beloved war memorial under near-constant attack in Society Hill, some local Vietnam veterans are preparing to once again answer the call of duty.

Beginning next week, the vets will patrol the grounds of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial in an attempt to ward off heartless punks who have made a hobby of vandalizing the hallowed space.

Terry Williamson, president of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, said that skateboarders and in-line skaters have seemingly stepped up their mistreatment of the memorial since the site's $500,000 renovation last fall.

"It really breaks your heart," Williamson said during a recent interview with the Daily News.

"We thought the improvements that we made would have helped," he said, sighing, "but it appears it just made the memorial more attractive to young people who don't care what it means."

On March 7, police arrested three suburban youths who were spotted desecrating the memorial, Williamson said.

Months ago, workers replaced cracked brick pavers inside the memorial, at Front and Spruce streets, with stamped concrete.

The sacred center of the space, a granite wall that includes the names of 646 area soldiers who died in Vietnam, was restored.

New lights and a modern 24-hour surveillance system was also installed; live video of the memorial can be seen at www.pvvm.org.

Williamson hopes to raise another $500,000 for a second phase of renovations, which would include opening up the Spruce Street side of the memorial with steps.

Jim Moran, the memorial's unofficial custodian, said that the new concrete is frequently scuffed and scarred by skaters, as are the refinished granite walls.

On March 20, a group of 10 skateboarders yanked out "skate guards" that had been installed on railings and walls, Moran said. They have not been caught
 

MISSION: The mission of the Nam Knights is to honor the memory of American Veterans and Police Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, to assist Veterans and Police Officers in their time of need, and to promote community awareness through sponsorship and participation in various community and fundraising events.