Woman Arrested on Suspicion of Vandalizing World War II Memorial in Washington

Federal authorities arrested a woman suspected of vandalizing the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Aug. 14.

Melissa Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged with two felony counts of depredation against property of the United States and destruction of a veterans memorial. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

“Defacing the World War II Memorial is a disgusting act and an insult to the Americans who fought and died for our country,” Pirro said in a statement. “We will not tolerate this kind of criminal activism, and we will ensure that anyone who desecrates a veterans’ memorial is held fully accountable.”

The memorial was vandalized on Aug. 13 with the words “Clean hands Dirty $” painted on one of the surfaces, along with paint splatters on the ground. A painted sign was also found in a trash can near the north entrance of the balcony, authorities reported.

Soap was also poured into the fountain, causing suds to spill over the sides.

Farris, also known as Melissa Lovewell on Facebook, posted a video of herself at the memorial and appeared to take responsibility for the vandalism.

She posted several videos after her arrest, saying she was headed to federal court. She indicated she was turning herself in and said her actions were carried out to get help for personal problems. Farris also claimed she lived on the street in a camper.

U.S. Park Police responded to the memorial at about 2 p.m. Aug. 13 after receiving a report of a disorderly person at the site.

A witness told officers they saw a woman spray painting graffiti on parts of the Atlantic Theater Pavilion of the memorial at the eastern end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A park ranger arrived and found foam in the fountain area.

Several people gathered around the balcony and watched a woman taking videos of herself before fleeing after the park rangers arrived, according to prosecutors.

Park police recognized Farris as someone they had arrested on Aug. 10 for illegally camping on federal property a few blocks away, according to authorities. She identified herself during that arrest as “Melissa Lovewell.”

The World War II Memorial honors 16 million American service members who served during World War II, and millions more who supported the effort at home. More than 400,000 Americans died during the war.