INDIANAPOLIS — Veteran Affairs is hoping someone can help them find the vandals who smeared tar and feathers over multiple gravesites at “The Confederate Mound” at Crown Hill Cemetery.
The photo below was taken by a groundskeeper who happened upon the vandalism on the morning of June 6.
(Photo: David Deems)
He tells RTV6 he believes it was done sometime that morning because the tar-like substance was still soft when he found it. Because of that, they were able to spray away most of the vandalism, but some remnants are still left behind.
A plaque seen on the stones calls this portion of the cemetery ‘The Confederate Mound.”
WRTV reached out to Crown Hill Cemetery, who said that the Confederate Mound is a federally owned National Cemetery that does not belong to Crown Hill, although it is on their property.
According to Crown Hill’s website, "The Confederate Mound" is where 1,600 confederate prisoners of war were buried after they died at Camp Morton.
Veterans Affairs says they were told the substance left on the memorials was a "tar and feather" substance.
They issued the following statement about the vandalism:
“Vandalism and defacement of federal property is a serious crime, and VA is working with law enforcement officials to identify those responsible. VA is committed to maintaining our cemeteries as national shrines, and that includes cleaning these gravesites, which memorialize those interred at the cemetery.
Crews have since cleaned up the mess, but the VA says they are working with local law enforcement to identify the person or persons responsible for the vandalism.
If you have any information contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
