Although it is certainly not at the level of vandalism that was cast upon the Peace Light Monument in Gettysburg, the slave auction block here in downtown Fredericksburg has been purposely damaged for a second time. Back in 2005 someone smashed off 13 fragments with a hammer requiring a $3500+ restoration. Last night, another yahoo decided to follow suite and broke off 2 large pieces.

Ironically a photo of the often overlooked memorial appeared in The Free Lance-Star yesterday with an article on Black History Month tours. My associate Chris Williams and I were researching photos of the block online to compliment an article he has coming up in the Town & County.

This REALLY infuriates me as it is most likely one (or more) teenage hooligans who have absolutely no idea what the item symbolizes of how important it is to preserving the history of the city. Unlike the first attack, this one has received no press other than a mention on local news radio. Perhaps they are trying to avoid giving the perpetrators the media attention that they most likely crave.

Personally, I’d like to find the culprits and make them stand on the block in their underwear for a day. It’s still pretty cold here in central VA and if they didn't die of exposure, the embarrasment might get them.

What I find even more startling is the rampant vandalism that takes place on memorials. A simple ‘Google Search’ for “vandalized memorials” brings up page after page of international incidents including malicious damage to the New Haven Iraq Veterans Memorial, San Fran Holocaust Memorial, Croatia WW2 Memorial, Ontario Firefighters Memorial, Israeli Navy Memorial, Lincoln Brigade Memorial, 114th PA Monument and on and on…

What a sad commentary on our society.