Gettysburg |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Thursday, June 1, 1989 While checking the park tour road near the tower on Gulp's Hill late on the night of the 29th, rangers found the body of a 20-year-old Gettysburg man in his car. Death was apparently caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Rangers investigated along with local officers and state troopers. (Dan Kuehn, superintendent, GETT, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO and RAD/MARO).
On September 16th, two electric transformers were dumped next to the visitor center parking lot, and up to 80 gallons of oil leaked onto the ground and into a storm drain. A field test for PCB's proved positive (greater than 50 parts per million). Soaker pads were used in the drain, and park staff removed six inches of contaminated soil. The park has offered a reward of $500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) who dumped the transformers there. (Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, via CompuServe report to RAD/WASO).
General Dmitriy Timofeyavich Yazov, the Soviet Minister of Defense, made an official visit to the park with Defense Secretary Cheney on October 3rd. General Yazov, his wife Emma and other senior Soviet military leaders are visiting the United States at the invitation of Secretary Cheney. Their itinerary included a tour of the park. (Telefax report from RAD/MARO).
Between July 17th and September 3rd, there were 11 car clouts in the park in which visitors lost over $5,000 in property. On the latter date, however, a surveillance team comprised of rangers from the park caught H.W.H., Jr., 28, in the process of breaking into a car and arrested him for larceny from a motor vehicle. H.W.H. had employed a coat hanger to reach through one of the car's windows and pop a door lock; he had then taken a woman's purse and its contents, which were together valued at $166. H.W.H., who has served time for numerous larcenies, burglaries and forgeries, was subsequently incarcerated in the Adams County prison on a fugitive from justice warrant from Maryland. When caught, H.W.H. was driving a 1989 Mercury Sable (West Virginia tag 6NL109) which he'd stolen from another NPS area in June. H.W.H. also told investigators that he'd been travelling the eastern seaboard since December of last year. Rangers and local and state authorities have begun a joint investigation into H.W.H.'s activities during that time. Rangers do not believe, however, that H.W.H. was responsible for all 11 car clouts. Please notify Joe Bowden, the park's law enforcement specialist, if you have any additional information which might tie these incidents with those that you are investigating. He can be reached at 717-334-0909. [CompuServe message from Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, 9/5] On June 12th, rangers discovered that the bronze relief panel on the Wells monument in the south end of the park had been stolen. The relief is considered to be a priceless national work of art. The park is offering monetary rewards for information leading to the recovery of the panel and the identification of the person(s) involved in the theft. The FBI is assisting park rangers in the investigation. [CompuServe message from Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, 6/17]
On June 12th, R.L.G. of Walkersville, Maryland, was found guilty of disorderly conduct following his arrest for indecent acts committed as a transvestite while in the park. Due to sufficient identifying information provided by a teenage witness and facts uncovered during an investigation, R.L.G. was positively identified as the person who committed the acts. It was also learned that he'd committed the same offense in the park on two occasions during the previous eight months, but that the witnesses to those acts were unwilling to appear in court. R.L.G. was found guilty due to the excellent testimony of the witness and the testimony of the investigating ranger, who brought to light a number of contradictory and unusual statements made by R.L.G. during three separate interviews. Though the magistrate suggested that R.L.G. seek professional counseling, he did not order it because R.L.G. had no prior convictions. R.L.G. was instead fined $250 and ordered to pay the costs for his legal representation. [CompuServe message from Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, 6/20]
On July 11th, Gettysburg rangers recovered the bronze bas-relief sculpture which had been stolen from the Wells Monument on June 12th. The sculpture, which was retrieved from a business establishment in Frederick, Maryland, had suffered only minor damage. Names are being withheld while the investigation continues. Prosecution is likely. The $1,000 reward which was posted for information leading to the sculpture's recovery will be paid to several citizens who provided assistance in locating the work of art. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, via CompuServe message from Chris Andress, RAD/MARO, 7/12]
On June 12th, four juveniles from Maryland drove into the park, stopped on South Confederate Avenue, and removed the panel from the Wells Monument. One pushed and pulled on the statue's sword until the weld broke, while a second member of the group threw a heavy rock at the panel until it loosened and could be removed. The panel was valued at $5,000; damage to the monument was placed at $3,800. The group then attempted unsuccessfully to remove parts of other monuments in the park in order to "bring something back home." Two weeks later, three of the juveniles sold the panel in Maryland for $25.55, then returned to the park to get five or six more panels in order to make more money. On this trip, they stole a Pennsylvania state seal panel valued at $1,200. The juveniles were subsequently identified with the cooperation of several citizens, a Maryland police department and the Pennsylvania state police. Both stolen panels were also recovered. On September 18th, all four juveniles appeared in court. They were found to be delinquent and ordered to make restitution for the $3,800 in damages. Reward monies will be paid to citizens who assisted in the recovery and identification of the juveniles. The case was brought to a successful conclusion largely through the efforts of ranger Joe Bowden, the park's law enforcement specialist. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, via CompuServe message from RAD/MARO, 9/23]
Vandals knocked the head off the statue on the monument to the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters (Andrews' Company, 5th Corps) at the south end of the park sometime before midnight on September 29th. The statue apparently broke after it was repeatedly struck with a tree branch. Investigation into the incident is underway. A $1,250 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the damage. The Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides, which operates in the park, has contributed $250 of the reward offering. This is the fifth act of vandalism to monuments in the park this year. [CompuServe message from Mac Heebner, CR, GETT/EISE, 10/1]
On November 7th, an ENP&MA employee discovered that a painting had been stolen from the lower gallery of the park museum. The six inch by ten inch painting, entitled "Crossing the Rappahanock at Chancellorsville", was completed sometime during the Civil War by artist William McIlvaine and is valued at $2,500. It was one of nearly a dozen paintings on exhibit in the gallery. Although the exhibit was not alarmed, its design incorporated standard security provisions and security guards were present in the building. A $500 reward is being offered for information leading to recovery of the painting. An investigation by park personnel is underway. [CompuServe message from Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, 11/14]
At 2:23 a.m. on the morning of July 5th, D.S., 27, was travelling at a high rate of speed on Route 15 through the park when his pick-up truck struck a utility pole and several sections of fence. He was taken to Gettysburg Hospital, then flown to York Hospital with massive head injuries, where he died the following day. D.S., a local resident, was the only occupant in the vehicle, and it appears unlikely that he was wearing his seatbelt. the accident is being jointly investigated by rangers and township police. Alcohol was a contributing factor. [Joe Bowden, LES, GETT, 7/6]
Local 430 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters conducted an hour-long demonstration in the Cyclorama Center parking lot on August 6th. The teamsters, who were joined by an array of other unions in a show of solidarity, are attempting to negotiate a contract with Turner Network Television (TNT) and Killer Angels Productions, which is shooting a four-hour mini-series for TNT about the battle of Gettysburg based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. Between 200 and 250 people participated in the demonstration, which overflowed the designated area but caused no visitor service problems. The event was orderly and the participants complied with the terms of their special use permit. More union activity is anticipated at other production locations outside the park. The production company is employing numerous locations in southern Adams County during the two-month shooting schedule, but filming within the park will be limited to eight days and four locations. Although a regional SET team was on alert, the park was able to manage the event with available staff. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, 8/7 and 8/20]
The filming of "Killer Angels", a movie about the Battle of Gettysburg based on the book by Michael Shaara, concluded on September 30th. Crews from Turner Broadcasting Network had been filming the movie since July 28th, and shot several major scenes on park lands under a special use permit and film permit. An ICS team from the park managed the event. There was no serious damage to any resource, and visitor inconvenience was held to a minimum. Turner Broadcasting Network compensated the park for labor and materials amounting to $22,000, mostly for labor to manage and monitor the event. They also gave $50,000 to Friends of Gettysburg National Park, Inc., to benefit park cultural resource management visitations. Mid-Atlantic Region and three parks provided assistance to park personnel in monitoring impacts to park resources, controlling traffic and crowds, and inspecting and supervising black powder usage. It's expected that the film will preview in the spring and be released as a four-hour-long mini-series next summer. Principal actors were Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Sam Elliott. Media coverage was very high throughout the filming. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, 10/18]
Between 9:30 and 10:30 on the morning of November 19th, three visitors, all from Gettysburg, were attached by a white-tailed deer in two related incidents. In the first incident, T.A., 33, and M.H., 36, were waling on Slocum Avenue in the Culp's Hill area when a 200-pound, eight-point buck charged them. The women were rescued by battlefield guide Jim Tate as they were fleeing from the deer. E.L., 30, was then attacked by the same deer approximately a half hour later near the same location. She was rescued by maintenance foreman Bill Myers, who was passing through the area. Each victim was taken to Gettysburg Hospital, treated for contusions, abrasions and puncture wounds, then released. Responding rangers closed that section of the park and alerted nearby public school officials of the dangerous situation. Around 11:30 a.m., the deer was found and identified by its aggressive behavior and subsequently destroyed. Upon further investigation, it was learned that the deer had escaped from a pen on private property adjacent to the park, and that the owner knew it was in rut and behaving aggressively. State game commission officials confirmed that the deer's keeper had a valid permit for the animal. The closed area was reopened at noon the same day. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT/EISE, 11/19]
Two local residents - D.M., 28, and his passenger, T.W., 25 - were killed in a motorcycle accident which occurred on U.S. Route 15 a half mile north of the Peach Orchard around 1 a.m. on May 3rd. The motorcycle was southbound on the highway when it went off the west side of the roadway and struck a utility pole and one section of park split rail fence. Both were wearing helmets. A coroner's report is not yet available. Ranger Tim Sorber and Pennsylvania state troopers investigated the accident. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT/EISE, 5/3]
At 11:45 a.m. on January 2nd, a man called the park and reported that a dynamite device had been placed under the electric map display in the visitor center and was set to explode at 3 p.m. The visitor center was closed at noon and the Park Police were called for assistance. An officer with a bomb-trained canine arrived on Eagle One shortly thereafter. No bomb was found in the building. The person who called in the bomb threat was a former licensed battlefield guide who claimed to know who planted the bomb. The incident is under investigation. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, 1/2]
A severe storm which passed over the park on July 6th blew down the top of a large tree onto the monument to Company F, 1st U.S. Sharpshooters, severely damaging it. The preliminary estimate for repairing the damage is $150,000. The monument, which was erected in 1889 and sculpted from marble from Rutland, Vermont, was comprised of a fluted column topped by an ornate capitol and carved eagle. Several avenues within the park were temporarily closed due to downed limbs and trees, but no other park property was damaged. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT/EISE, 7/10]
A park maintenance worker discovered the body of G.U., 52, of Annandale, Virginia, at a battery marker in the Wheatfield at 7:30 a.m. on the morning of May 22nd. Investigation indicates that G.U. was despondent over the impending breakup of his marriage and difficulties at work. He apparently left his office on the morning of May 21st and drove to Gettysburg, taking only a few dollars, his operator's license and a handgun. He purchased a book on Abraham Lincoln at the park bookstore that afternoon. G.U. died of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head some time early that evening. [Peter Walzer, SPR, GETT]
The park has suffered from a more than 50% increase in vandalism over the past six months. Sixteen incidents causing damage to monuments and structures of almost $10,000 occurred between January and July, up from only nine such incidents during the same period in 1995. Incidents have included the following: o An official state seal and other plaques have been broken from monuments and stolen. o A bronze bayonet and cartridge pouch were pried off the 121st Pennsylvania Infantry monument on Reynolds Avenue. o A bronze canteen was pried from the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry monument on Doubleday Avenue. o The windows of the Pennsylvania state monument were broken and the iron gate and lock were damaged. These incidents continue a pattern of malicious damage inflicted on monuments over the past five years, during which the following occurred: o The head of the sculpture on the 2nd Andrew Sharpshooters monument was taken off by a swung tree limb. o A saber handle was broken off and stolen from the 4th New York Cavalry monument. o The figure on the 4th New York Artillery monument was toppled from its pedestal. o A marble bench at the Pennsylvania monument was smashed. o Satanic symbols were painted on three monuments at Barlow's Knoll. In order to fight this problem, the park has begun a volunteer Park Watch program. Twelve area residents have been trained an put on patrol, and have logged 320 hours of service since April. A standing reward of $1000 has also been offered by the Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) for vandalism to any park structure or resource on the battlefield or at Eisenhower farm. [Katie Lawhon, PIO, GETT]
John Andrews, 43, interpretive operations center supervisor, died of a heart attack yesterday evening. John had been with the Service for 21 years, and had worked previously at Assateague Island and Colonial. He was responsible for overseeing interpretive services and the licensed battlefield guide program at Gettysburg. He leaves his wife, Debby, and his children, Molly, 16, and Jonathan, 11. No details are yet available on services. They will be provided as soon as they are known. [Brion Fitzgerald, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Protection, GETT]
A memorial ceremony for John Andrews, 43, who died of a heart attack last Thursday, will be held tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Gettysburg. John was a graduate of Colorado State University and had been with the National Park Service for 22 years. He started as a seasonal park aid at Assateague Island in 1974, then worked as a seasonal park technician at Salem Maritime. Following a short tour as a forestry technician for the Forest Service, he returned to the NPS in 1977 to take a permanent position at Colonial. He took a position as a supervisory park ranger at Gettysburg in 1981, eventually becoming supervisor of interpretive operations, which includes the park's licensed guide program. John was tireless in his efforts to forge ties between the community and the park, and was active in the community. He will be remembered for his forthright manner, unfailing sense of humor, high professional standards, strong work ethic, and constant smile; he will also be remembered as a teacher, mentor and outstanding role model. Donations in John's memory can be made to Main Street Gettysburg. Condolences should be sent to D.A. [Brion FitzGerald, GETT; Bill Halainen, DEWA]
Ranger Tim Sorber stopped a vehicle with Maryland plates near the picnic area on South Confederate Avenue just before 1 a.m. on September 30th for being in the park after closing. The driver, who identified himself as P.W. of Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania, said that he'd recently moved to the area and did not have his operator's license with him. An NCIC check revealed that the vehicle was stolen. When Sorber asked P.W. to get out of the vehicle, he instead sped away and turned south on Route 15. Sorber pursued and was joined by a Cumberland Township officer. P.W. turned off the vehicle's lights while traveling at a high rate of speed. He evidently lost control of the vehicle about a mile from an intersection, slid sideways off the east side of the road, and struck a large tree. When Sorber and the officer reached the wreck, the car had started to and P.W. was attempting to crawl away. He was pulled away from the burning vehicle. Attempts to control the rapidly expanding fire with extinguishers proved fruitless. P.W. was taken by ambulance to Gettysburg Hospital, then flown to a hospital in York, where he was listed in critical condition at the time of the report. A joint investigation is underway. [Pete Walzer, SPR, GETT, 9/30]
Maintenance worker Fred Redmond was injured by a falling snag while removing hazard trees along a park trail near South Confederate Avenue on the morning of October 27th. Redmond was standing about 20 feet from a front-end loader and to one side as the operator knocked down a dead snag. That snag caught a second snag, however, which struck Redmond on the back of the head, causing a significant laceration and contusion. Rangers provided initial treatment; he was then taken to a hospital in Gettysburg and admitted for overnight observation for a suspected concussion. Redmond was released the following day and is expected back at work on Saturday. [Pete Walzer, SPR, GETT, 10/28]
Thomas A. Sanders, 47, who worked for the park's maintenance division for 29 years, passed away on April 7th after a lengthy battle with cancer. Arrangements for memorial services will be held within the next two weeks but as yet are incomplete. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice. The note from the park concludes: "Tom's laughter and humor will be sorely missed by those of us who were fortunate enough to have known him." [Debbie Graul, GETT, 4/9]
On the evening of Tuesday, August 17th, a man entered the rear of a T-shirt shop located in the town of Gettysburg just outside the park while a 17-year- old girl was closing the store. He displayed a semi-automatic handgun, abducted her from the shop, then lead her a short distance to a wooded area adjacent to the park's boundary, removed her clothing, and raped her. He forced her to cross a fence into a pasture inside the park and raped her again. He then left her, walking away in the general direction from which they'd come. The incident is being investigated by state troopers, local police and park rangers. The state police are leading the investigation. The FBI has been contacted. [Pete Walzer, Supervisory Park Ranger, GETT, 8/18]
D.O., 30, of Gettysburg, was arrested by state police near his residence late on August 18th and charged with the abduction and rape of a 17-year-old girl the previous day. D.O. confessed to the crimes and provided investigators with information which led to the recovery of the handgun he had brandished at the girl - a BB pistol found on park land. One of the rapes evidently took place at a location on the battlefield past Culp's Hill, the other just outside the park boundary. D.O. was arraigned before a local magistrate and charged with four counts of forcible rape, two counts of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, and one count each of robbery and kidnapping. He is being held on $100,000 cash bond. He may also be prosecuted federally. D.O. apparently has an extensive criminal history. The district attorney prosecuting the case had this to say about the incident: "I have to commend the strength and incredible fortitude of the victim. The information provided by her was absolutely essential in closing this (case) as quickly as we did. We have no reason to believe that this was anything other than a random act. It was absolute senseless brutality, and it will be punished to the fullest extent." [Pete Walzer, SPR, GETT, 8/19; Matthew Vlahos, The Hanover Evening Sun, 8/19]
On the evening of Thursday, November 18th, a Park Watch volunteer discovered what appeared to be vegetable oil on the 17th Connecticut Infantry monument on Wainwright Avenue and notified ranger Andrew Suppiger. Further investigation revealed that eight other monuments on East Cemetery Hill also had oil poured onto them. The markers damaged included the 75th Ohio right flank marker, the 25th and 75th Ohio Infantry monument, the 25th Ohio right flank marker, the 4th Ohio Infantry monument, the 68th New York Infantry monument, the 14th Indiana Infantry monument, Cooper's Battery B/1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery monument, and the equestrian statue of Major General Oliver Howard. In many instances, small quantities of the oil were poured onto each corner of the monument. In other cases, the oil may have been poured onto the top of the stone or onto a bronze fixture. The park's monument preservation crew was advised of the damage early the next morning and immediately began working to remove the oily substance with assistance from volunteers. Work continued throughout the day. Some time between noon and about 2:30 p.m., a similar oil was poured onto the four corners of the Soldiers and Sailors monument and the New York state monument, both in the National Cemetery. This discovery prompted a second search for damaged markers. The 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry monument, the 60th New York Volunteers monument, the 66th Ohio right flank marker, the marker indicating the falling of Major J.G. Palmer of the 66th Ohio, the equestrian statue of Major General Henry Slocum, and the base of the observation tower at Culp's Hill were all found to have been similarly anointed. The monument preservation crew was again notified and worked most of Saturday to remove the oil. Thus far, it appears that efforts to safely remove all the oil may not be fully successful and that some staining may linger for years. This incident shows remarkable similarities to incidents investigated in the spring of 1998 at Vicksburg NMB, Tupelo NB, Brices Cross Roads NBS, and Shiloh NMP. The investigation continues. [Pete Walzer, SPR, GETT, 11/21]
Eastern National employee E.B., 40, of Biglerville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on December 8th on a one-count felony indictment for theft of public money. The indictment was under seal until E.B. was arrested on December 10th. E.B. is charged with theft of money that was collected as part of the park's reservation operation, which collects fees for attractions such as the electric map, Cyclorama, and tours of the Eisenhower farm. She was responsible for accounting for money received in the reservations operation and preparing a daily bank deposit. According to the prosecuting U.S. attorney, there were six occasions during a two-week period in September, 1998, when no deposits were made for the reservations operation. An audit revealed that more than $21,000 should have been deposited during that period. If convicted, E.B. faces a penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The investigation was handled by Northeast Region law enforcement team with assistance from the FBI. [Clark Guy, NERO, 12/20; press release, U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania, 12/10]
On March 6th, an oil-like substance in the shape of a cross was found underneath each of the four inscriptions in the chamber of the Jefferson Memorial. Spots of the substance were also found on three columns on the northeast corner of the memorial. Similar acts of vandalism have occurred at Civil War parks, including Gettysburg, Antietam and Vicksburg. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 3/9]
On August 18, 1999 D.O., 30, of Gettysburg, was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police on charges that he had abducted a 17-year-old female from a Gettysburg tourist shop and sexually assaulted her on lands both inside and outside the park's boundary. State troopers led the investigation of the incident; rangers and township and borough officers assisted in the identification of witnesses and the search for evidence over a crime scene that encompassed roughly 100 acres. On May 22nd, D.O. appeared before the county court, where he entered pleas of guilty to one count of kidnapping, four counts of rape, and one count of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 7th. [CRO, GETT, 5/24]
On the afternoon of May 5th, ranger Joseph Rankin investigated a report that a 32-year-old woman had been sexually assaulted near the West End guide station. He found that she'd successfully fought off her attacker, who fled on a bicycle. A suspect was identified and interviewed by Gettysburg police. E.C., 38, of Gettysburg, who had a prior conviction for indecent exposure, was incarcerated on May 6th for violation of parole. On May 17th, he was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. An arraignment is scheduled for June 13th. [CRO, GETT, 5/24]
Preparations are underway to remove the 307-foot Gettysburg National Tower on the afternoon of Monday, July 3rd at 5 p.m. EDT. The tower, built in 1974, has operated as a private tourist attraction immediately adjacent to the heart of the battlefield and the national cemetery and has long been considered a significant intrusion on the historic scene. The park recently acquired the property through condemnation (see the June 29th Morning Report) and will be demolishing the tower following a short ceremony on Monday. Controlled Demolition, Inc., will conduct the demolition. The Service's national Type I team (Skip Brooks, IC) is managing the incident, including perimeter security and dignitary participation. Secretary Babbitt will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony, which will culminate with the toppling of the tower. Media interest is very high; most networks will be covering the event live. [Greg Stiles and Bill Halainen, IMT, GETT, 6/30]
The 307-foot Gettysburg National Tower, a privately owned structure recently acquired through condemnation, was toppled by explosive charges at 5:03 p.m. yesterday afternoon. The event was witnessed by thousands throughout the battlefield and adjacent areas and followed a short ceremony which featured remarks by Secretary Babbitt, Director Stanton and others. Media coverage was extensive and included affiliates of most national networks. The removal of the tower, which USA Today yesterday called "the ugliest commercial structure ever to intrude on the sanctity of a national park" and likened to "the discarded leg of some monstrous insect," marks the beginning of an initiative to restore segments of the battlefield to their appearance in 1863. The Service's national Type I team (Skip Brooks, IC) managed the incident in cooperation with a number of local organizations and groups; a total of 151 people were committed to the incident. Two relatively minor injuries were reported. [Greg Stiles and Bill Halainen, IMT, GETT, 7/3]
On December 8, 1999, Eastern National employee E.B., 40, of Biglerville, Pennsylvania, was indicted for theft of public money collected as part of the park's reservation operation. E.B. was subsequently found guilty. On July 18th, she was sentenced to four months in federal penitentiary, full restitution of the sum stolen ($21,259, already repaid), $700 in fines and assessments, and two years' supervised probation with random drug testing. E.B. will report to the U.S. Marshal Service next week to start her prison term. The law enforcement staff at the Philadelphia Support Office assisted in this case. [Clark Guy, SAC, NERO, 7/19]
On August 1st, D.O., 31, of Gettysburg, was sentenced for kidnapping a female juvenile from a T-shirt shop in Gettysburg last August and raping her several times within and near the park. The county judge sentenced D.O. to 99 months to 20 years on each of two rape charges, 90 months to 20 years for involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, and 69 months to 20 years for kidnapping. The terms are to be served consecutively. D.O. will not be eligible for parole for nearly 30 years. According to the district attorney, D.O. told investigators that he didn't believe he'd caused the victim physical harm and said he wasn't sorry for what he'd done. He also admitted to raping seven other women outside the Adams area. During the proceedings, D.O. rejected an attempt by his lawyer to withdraw his guilty plea in exchange for a plea of guilty but mentally ill, which would have permitted him to serve his sentence in a mental health facility rather than state prison. Said the judge before handing down sentence: "Maybe one of these days, science will figure out what to do with you. I haven't the slightest idea what makes people like you tick." [Peter Walzer, SPR, GETT, 8/3, based on report by Jennifer Donatelli, Hanover Evening Sun, 8/2]
On November 18th, off-duty ranger Lauren Gantz found three monuments along Wainwright Avenue that appeared to have stains on them similar to those found on several monuments in November of 1999. Ranger Tim Sorber investigated and found that an unidentified substance had been applied near three corners of each monument's base stones. On November 19th, three other monuments located in the National Cemetery and on Howard Avenue on the other side of the borough were found to have similar stains. The liquid was oily to the touch, but no samples could be obtained. Monument preservation specialist Vic Gavin determined that this substance was a much lighter oil than had previously been encountered. The stains were easily removed using denatured alcohol. [Pete Walzer, GETT, 11/29]
While working to establish boundary lines in East Cavalry Field on August 18, rangers discovered eight small, well-tended marijuana plants growing within the park at the far end of a hay field and behind the properties within an adjacent private community. Ranger Ricky Pearce coordinating a joint investigation with the Adams County drug task force, with the park providing intermittent surveillance of the site. They determined that a resident of an adjacent property frequently tended the plants in the late evening. On the evening of September 10, seasonal ranger Maria Brady saw the man enter the field and begin tending the plants. She reported her observations to the county task force, members of whom arrested him. He was identified as R.E. of Gettysburg. Eight four-foot plants were seized; additional marijuana and paraphernalia were also seized during a consent search of R.E.'s residence. He will be prosecuted in state court. [Submitted by Pete Walzer, Supervisory Park Ranger, Gettysburg NMP]
A civil war cannon carriage on the Gettysburg battlefield was
shattered in the early morning hours of October 18th in a hit-and-run
accident that also damaged 80 feet of historic fence near the Peach
Orchard along Emmitsburg Road. Ranger Randy Phiel responded after police
from Cumberland Township noticed the damage and contacted the park at
about 2 a.m. A license plate found at the scene led Phiel to the
residence of Charles R. Kelly in nearby Emmitsburg, Maryland. Kelly was
charged with unsafe operation of a vehicle, failing to report an
accident, and damage to resources. In addition to fines of up to $175,
the National Park Service will seek damages to pay for the cost of
repairs. The cannon marks the position of Battery E of the 1st Rhode
Island Light Artillery along the Union battle line on July 2, 1863. The
cast iron cannon carriage was placed on the field by the War Department
in the 1890s during the early years of the park. Repairs are impossible.
The park estimates that a new carriage will cost between $10,000 and up
to $13,000, if replaced in cast aluminum or iron. The artillery piece
itself, a bronze Napoleon that weighs 1,239 pounds, was not damaged, nor
was the monument to Battery E and a second cannon and carriage. The park
estimates a cost of $2,592 to repair 80 feet of historic ornamental
plank fence.
The driver of a Ford Expedition lost control of her vehicle on
West Howard Avenue on the Gettysburg battlefield on the evening of
November 12th, striking and seriously damaging a Civil War monument.
L.M.S. of Gettysburg failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway;
the vehicle she was operating then struck a drainage culvert, overturned
as it left the road, and collided with the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry
Monument located on the south side of the avenue. Veterans and survivors
of the Battle of Gettysburg dedicated the monument on July 2, 1888. The
monument is a large granite sculpture of a color bearer and flag on a
granite pedestal and was severely damaged, breaking into several pieces.
Initial estimates are that it will cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to
repair the monument. L.M.S. was charged with failure to maintain control
of a vehicle. On October 18th, a vehicle operated by a Maryland man
struck and demolished a Civil War cannon carriage and 80 feet of
historic fence in the park, causing more than $10,000 in damage.
The driver of a Ford pickup truck collided with a civil war monument
and two granite fence posts on the Gettysburg battlefield at East
Cemetery Hill on the afternoon of March 3rd. The driver was traveling
northbound on Baltimore Pike and lost control of his pickup in front of
Evergreen Cemetery. The truck swerved off the east edge of the roadway,
continued approximately 150 feet in a northerly direction, and struck
the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry right flank marker and two granite
fence posts. The 1887 monument is about two feet high, is composed of a
zinc alloy cast to resemble carved stone, and was severely
damaged. Two granite fence posts were uprooted from their concrete
anchors but received minimal damage. The driver was not injured; there
were no passengers. Preliminary National Park Service cost estimates for
the damage are between $5,000 and $10,000, including a complete
recasting of the zinc monument, which cannot be repaired. Gettysburg
Borough PD is the investigating agency and charges are pending. This is
the third time since October 2003 that a vehicle has struck and damaged
a monument or cannon carriage within the park.
A 22-year-old woman has told rangers that she was the victim of an
attempted armed abduction in the park around 5 p.m.
on Tuesday, April 6th. While driving along Colgrove
Avenue, she saw a man standing along the side of the road, waving his
arms as if needing help. She stopped and got out of her car, at which
point the man placed a knife to her throat and attempted to force her
into the trunk of her vehicle. She was able to escape by running into a
wooded area. The man, who was described as a white male wearing all
black clothing, fled the scene. The investigation is
continuing.
On November 12, 2003, the driver of a Ford Expedition lost control of her vehicle on West Howard Avenue and struck and seriously damaging the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument. The monument was broken into several pieces. Staub was charged with failure to maintain control of a vehicle, and the park sought damages for the costs of the repairs — estimated at $15,000 to $20,000 — from her insurance company. The actual cost to repair the monument, however, came to $41,000 and was paid by Staub's insurance company. Pieces of the monument were subsequently shipped to Conservation of Sculpture and Objects Studio, Inc., of Forest Park Illinois, for repairs, which took most of the past year. On October 27th, the repaired statue was lowered by crane and placed in position by Andrzej Dajnowski of Conservation of Sculptures and Objects Studio and Vic Gavin and Gary Currens from the park's staff. For the original incident report, click on "More Information"
below.
The park is currently investigating two separate incidents of theft of bronze swords from monuments on the battlefield. On January 20th, park staff discovered that a bronze sword had been stolen from the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry monument on Pleasonton Avenue near the Pennsylvania Memorial. The theft is believed to have occurred sometime between January 17th and January 19th. Last September, a bronze sword was stolen from the Alexander Hays monument at Ziegler's grove near the Cyclorama parking area. The cost of replacing the swords and repairing the damage done to the monuments has been placed at $4,200 — an estimated $1,200 for the Hays monument, $3,000 for the cavalry monument. Anyone with information on the thefts should call the park at 717-334-0909. A reward of $1,000 is being offered through Adams County Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest and conviction. [Submitted by Katie Lawhon, Public Affairs Specialist]
Around 7 a.m. on February 16th, the Adams County 911 center relayed a citizen report of vandalism to two monuments located along the Emmitsburg Road. Rangers and the park's monument preservation crew responded and found two monuments toppled over within a half mile stretch of the road. A sweep of other sections of the park led to the discovery that a third monument in the Devils Den area had also been pulled over. In each case, vandals had looped a rope or cable over the top of a monument and used a large vehicle to pull it off its base. The monuments involved included those for the 11th Massachusetts, the 114th Pennsylvania and the 4th New York regiments. The cost of repairs has been estimated to be in the $60,000 to $80,000 range. [Brion FitzGerald, Chief Ranger]
The park's monument preservation staff will reset the life-size bronze sculpture of a Zouave infantryman onto the pedestal of the 114th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Monument this afternoon. The monument was damaged along with two other monuments on the Gettysburg battlefield during the night of February 15th or the early morning hours of February 16th. Rangers are investigating the incidents and are looking for information that may help them find the responsible individuals. So far, they have developed no significant leads. The Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg and other organizations and individuals have posted a reward of $36,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the vandalism. Preservation specialists at Gettysburg spent a total of 130 hours working on the 114th Pennsylvania monument - fabricating a new ramrod, which had been stolen, carefully removing gouges, and refurbishing the bronze figure. This afternoon, a crane will hoist the figure onto its base at the Sherfy House along Emmitsburg Road. Repairs are underway on the cast iron fence that surrounds the monument. Vandals also pulled the top stone and sculpture off the 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Monument, and pulled the bronze sculpture of a Civil War artilleryman from the monument to Smith's battery, also known as the 4th New York battery. The bronze artilleryman from the Smith's battery monument was dragged 162 feet and its head was severed and stolen from the scene, along with the ramrod. The park has estimated the repair costs for the two severely damaged monuments and the historic fence at between $55,000 and $65,000. [Katie Lawhon, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers received a call from Gettysburg PD on the afternoon of June 8th, reporting that an NCIC check on a vehicle parked on Slocum Avenue near Culp's Hill had come back as registered to a person from Sterling, Virginia, who was reportedly suicidal. Based on this information, rangers, Gettysburg PD officers and members of Gettysburg FD conducted a hasty search of the area and soon found a body in the woods about 75 yards north of the avenue. The cause of death was evidently a self-inflicted gunshot wound; a 9mm Glock was found nearby. [Randy Phiel, Park Ranger]
Rangers received a report of a body at the Longstreet Observation Tower on West Confederate Avenue just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10th. Visitors at the top of the tower had spotted the body next to a stone wall near its base and notified authorities. Initial indications were that the middle-aged woman had either fallen or jumped from the 76-foot-high observation deck and landed on the wall and that she'd not been there very long. The area was closed while an investigation was conducted. Evidence indicated that a vehicle found in the tower parking lot had been driven there by the woman. A purse, cell phone and suicide note were seen on the front seat. Since her death was not witnessed, rangers decided to obtain a search warrant before entering the vehicle in case she proved to have been the victim of a crime. The investigation revealed that the woman had been a resident of Gettysburg, but was currently living with her family in Annapolis, Maryland. She'd left her house early that morning, saying that she was going on a long-distance run with friends. Family members said that she'd been having medical problems and had previously attempted suicide. Assistance in the investigation was provided by the Harrisburg Office of the FBI, Cumberland Township PD, the Adams County coroner's office and Anne Arundel PD. [Randy Phiel, Park Ranger]
A fire damaged the Basil Biggs House on the Gettysburg battlefield early yesterday morning. Smoke alarms activated around 3 a.m., alerting emergency responders to the blaze. A fire suppression system installed in the historic house in 2002 activated and three fire companies responded. The fire, which started in the attic, caused extensive damage to the roof. The building's interior suffered water damage as a result of the suppression effort. A park employee and his family live in the home, but were able to escape without injury. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No cost estimate for the damage is available at this time. The Basil Biggs farmhouse dates to 1850-1860. Located on Taneytown Road, the house was behind Union battle lines on Cemetery Ridge during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, and troops used it for cover and concealment. Its position close to major battle action made it one of the busiest of the forward hospital aid stations during the battle. In 2002, the park received special funding for and installed fire suppression systems in 50 historic structures on the Gettysburg battlefield, including the Biggs farmhouse. [Katie Lawhon, Public Affairs Officer]
The park is in the process of assessing the extent of the damage inflicted by an October 9th lightning strike to the 6th New York Cavalry monument, but early estimates are that it will cost in the vicinity of $100,000 to repair. The monument, located near the center of Buford Avenue, dates to 1889 and is composed of rough hewn and smooth granite, standing 26 feet high on a 14 by 10 foot base. It has a tower with turrets at each corner, horse heads capping its pilasters, a bronze relief on its west face, and an information tablet on its east side. Components of the stonework were blown free by the strike, and many others were displaced when mortar joints failed. The park's preservation experts have stored loose pieces of the monument and plan to stabilize it for the winter season using straps and possibly tarps. According to Vic Gavin, the head of the park's monument preservation branch, "the damage may be even worse inside the structure, where lightning superheated the moisture that is naturally present in the stone and mortar." The monument may have to be totally disassembled and reconstructed, possibly using a private sector restoration firm. A park neighbor reported hearing the sharp thunderclap associated with a lightning strike near the monument during the storm. The last known lightning strike on a Gettysburg monument was in the 1930s on the 58th New York monument, located nearby. [Katie Lawhon, Public Affairs Officer]
On Monday, August 4th, rangers received a BOLO ("be on the lookout" message) for a 60-year-old man who had an involuntary mental health commitment warrant issued for him. The man had threatened to shoot both himself and law enforcement officers. One of his friends located him in the Pitzer Woods parking lot on park property and reported his location to Adams County dispatch. Two rangers responded along with units from both Gettysburg and Cumberland Township Police Departments. Two police vehicles blocked his car so he couldn't move it, while two others blocked the parking lots' entrance and exit. The man surrendered without incident and admitted to having a loaded weapon under the driver's seat, which was later recovered. A search of the vehicle produced two other revolvers. The man was taken to the local hospital, then released to a treatment center. [Maria Brady, Park Ranger]
On Tuesday, August 18th, a park maintenance employee notified rangers that two men had been seen metal detecting behind the McLean House in the northwest corner of the park. The employee provided a good description of what both men were wearing. Rangers John Sherman and Steve Wukovitz went to the location. Wukovitz saw J.V. in the woods, on his knees and in the process of digging. Wukovitz and Sherman made contact with him but could not find the second man. J.V. called the other man, D.D., on his cell phone and had him walk out of the woods. A search of the area found 11 holes dug on National Park Service property. Rangers seized two metal detectors and a small amount of relics from both men. An ARPA investigation is ongoing. [Ryan Levins, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Park staff and United States Park Police officers teamed up to provide law enforcement services during a First Amendment demonstration by the Aryan Nations on June 19th. This demonstration involved contentious issues requiring a coordinated response in which the United States Park Police could provide assets not regularly used at Gettysburg. This was perhaps the first major political demonstration where firearms would be allowed on National Park Service property. The USPP deployed aviation, horse mounted, and special service units. Planning and coordination for the event made it possible for several different groups to freely exercise their Constitutionally protected rights while protecting the cultural and natural resources of this park There were no arrests, injuries or illnesses despite the challenging hot, hazy, and humid conditions. [Sgt. David Schlosser, Public Information Officer]
On the evening of August 8th, Adams County emergency dispatch contacted rangers and reported a domestic incident at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial within the park. Rangers Maria Brady and Jon Ludwick responded and met with the woman who'd made the report. She said that her son, a minor, was injured as a result of her ex-boyfriend, G.D., pulling him from their vehicle, scratching him in the process. G.D., who was reportedly carrying a buck knife, an axe and several cans of beer in his backpack, left the scene on foot. While rangers met with the woman, local officers began searching for him. G.D. actively evaded state and local police units and rangers. During this time, he was also texting threatening messages to his ex-girlfriend, saying that he was going to kill her. Local officers called in a Maryland State Police helicopter to assist in the search. While the search was underway, G.D. is believed to have set approximately 260 bales of hay on fire in the park. The bales, which belonged to a agricultural lease permittee, were valued at $28,000. The search was called off after dark, but local police units subsequently spotted G.D. on the Gettysburg College campus and took him into custody. He was turned over to rangers, who then transported him to the Adams County prison. G.D. appeared in federal court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg on Monday, August 11th. He was charged with simple assault, malicious mischief, threats via interstate commerce, and violating the superintendent's closure prohibiting consumption of alcohol in the park. [Ryan P. Levins, Chief Ranger]
According to a Huffington Post article, a few hundred armed militia group members, Sons of Confederate Veterans and Ku Klux Klan members, supporters of President Donald Trump, and other self-described patriots descended upon the Gettysburg battlefield this past Saturday to "defend the site's Confederate symbols from phantom activists with the violent far-left group Antifa." The event was conducted under a park-issued First Amendment permit. "Some carried semi-automatic rifles — permitted in Pennsylvania — as they peered out across the battlefield with binoculars, on the lookout for the black-clad, face-masked anti-fascists, anarchists and socialists they said they had heard were traveling to the national park to dishonor Confederate graves, monuments and flags," write reporters Christopher Mathias and Andy Campbell. "Saturday's rally in Gettysburg showed pro-Confederate activists increasingly agitated, armed, and itching for a fight — even when there is no one to clash with them." The protestors gathered just north of the headquarters of Union Army General George Meade. "After singing the National Anthem and performing the Pledge of Allegiance, the hundreds of Southern Army enthusiasts...took a moment to honor the Confederate flag. 'I salute the Confederate flag,' they said in unison, 'with affection, reverence and undying devotion to the cause for which it stands.'" The rhetoric that followed (excerpts appear in the article) was heated and hyperbolic. The event was attended by anti-government militia groups from across the country, including West Virginia, Michigan, Nebraska and California. Members of Antifa never showed up and claimed that they never had any intent to do so. There was only one injury — a 23-year-old demonstrator who accidently shot himself in the knee. According to the article, his life was saved through a quick response by US Park Police officers. The park hasn't yet issued a press release on the event. Source: Huffington Post.
Although the parks weren't overrun with violators during last week's brief government shutdown, several incidents have been reported: Gettysburg National Military Park — A family with metal detectors and a drone — both of which are prohibited — entered the park over the weekend. Rangers intercepted them and used the incident as "an educational opportunity," said a park spokesman, then let them go without a citation. If you've heard of any other incidents, please send them along. Sources: Washington Post and St. George Spectrum.
The National Parks — Articles on the effects of the shutdown on several specific National Park Service areas — and the ad hoc and often inconsistent ways in which they're being managed during the shutdown: Gettysburg NMP/Eisenhower NHS — The park remains open because it is being operated by the Gettysburg Foundation, a nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Licensed battlefield guides are still giving tours, but all park programs have been canceled. The Soldiers' National Cemetery, cemetery annex, David Wills House and Eisenhower National Historic Site are all closed. Source: Tammie Gitt, The Sentinel.
On July 25th, rangers and Cumberland Township police responded to reports of burglaries from vehicles in the park and at Artillery Ridge National Riding Stables and Cumberland Township campgrounds. In every case, car windows were broken and the thieves took women's purses and wallets containing credit cards, checkbooks and identification. Several checks were later recovered after an unknown woman attempted to cash them at several different banks in Adams County. Investigators believe that the break-ins were conducted by a group known at the "Felony Lane Gang." According to the FBI, the gang consists of several organized burglary and identity theft rings operating in jurisdictions throughout the country. They often operate independently, but employ similar MO's: They employ rental vehicles with heavily-tinted windows to conduct surveillance of parking lots, then steal IDs, credit cards, and checkbooks from unattended vehicles where women would be more likely to leave their purses. Gang members then utilize the stolen checks and IDs to withdraw large sums of money at multiple banks before the victims have the opportunity to close their accounts. They strategically choose the furthest window from the teller in bank drive-thru lanes in order to impersonate the owner while using her stolen ID. This drive-thru lane is commonly known as the "felony lane", hence the name of this criminal enterprise. Source: WHP News.
The following was taken from an investigative article in the July 4th Washington Post: "For weeks, a mysterious figure on social media talked up plans for antifa protesters to converge on [the park] on Independence Day to burn American flags, an event that seemed at times to border on the farcical. "'Let's get together and burn flags in protest of thugs and animals in blue,' the anonymous person behind a Facebook page called Left Behind USA wrote in mid-June. There would be antifa face paint, the person wrote, and organizers would 'be giving away free small flags to children to safely throw into the fire.' "As word spread, self-proclaimed militias, bikers, skinheads and far-right groups from outside the state issued a call to action, pledging in online videos and posts to come to Gettysburg to protect the Civil War monuments and the nation's flag from desecration. Some said they would bring firearms and use force if necessary... "On Saturday, hours before the planned flag-burning protest, hundreds of bikers, militia members and self-described patriots began gathering outside the Gettysburg Cemetery and at nearby sites with Confederate memorials. Some waved Confederate flags. Many gripped assault rifles slung from their shoulders. One carried a baseball bat...Less than a mile away, at the Virginia Monument, hundreds of bikers and armed men gathered around a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee." At 3 p.m., when the Antifa rally was supposed to begin, there was no sign of anyone from that group. Someone did see a person in the cemetery wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt and about 50 people soon surrounded him. It turned out he was an associate pastor at a nearby church who was visiting the grave of an ancestor. Police — evidently rangers — showed up and asked the pastor to leave. The park's acting public affairs officer gave this reason: "For his own safety, federal law enforcement made the decision to remove him, and he was escorted out of the cemetery." Post reporters subsequently conducted an investigation into the source of the antifa story, who proved to be a person named Alan Jeffs. The article details the investigation and everything they learned about Jeffs, who clearly was a fictional person, and about the practice of using social media to cause such incidents. Source: Shawn Boburg and Dalton Bennett, Washington Post.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Gettysburg NMP — A.R., 38, a former concert promoter and part-time food-delivery driver and DJ, has been identified as the anonymous figure behind a number of social media hoaxes — the most recent played out in Gettysburg on Independence Day — that have riled far-right extremists in recent years and repeatedly duped partisan media outlets. They've often been amplified by right-wing commentators and covered as real news by media outlets such as Breitbart News and the Gateway Pundit. "The hoaxes, outlandish in their details, have spurred fringe groups of conspiracy-minded Americans to action by playing on partisan fears," reports the Washington Post. "They have led to highly combustible situations — attracting heavily armed militia members and far-right activists eager to protect values they think are under siege — as well as large mobilizations of police." The newspaper examined A.R.'s activities in detail. The resulting article "provides a rare inside look at the work of a homegrown troll who uses social media to stoke partisan division. It shows that in an era of heightened sensitivity about disinformation campaigns carried out by foreign nations, bad-faith actors with far fewer resources can also manipulate public discourse and affect events in the real world." Source: Shawn Boburg and Dalton Bennett, Washington Post.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Gettysburg NMP — The right wing demonstration at the Soldiers National Cemetery on July 4th was followed on July 18th by a counter gathering under permit by a group of Civil War historians and friends led by former Gettysburg seasonal ranger and current Civil War historian Jennifer Murray. It was held at Meade's Headquarters and about 40 people attended. After the event concluded, Murray said some of the demonstrators then walked north into the Soldiers' National Cemetery to pay respects to the Union dead. In the cemetery, Murray said a National Park Service ranger informed her that her group had violated their First Amendment permit by leaving their designated "corral" area and by displaying signs in the cemetery (Murray says their signs were rolled up — unlike their predecessors, who covered cemetery walls with Trump banners and Confederate flags). Shortly thereafter, Murray and about 300 others sent a letter to the park protesting their eviction (the article has a link to the letter). Source: Charles Stangor, Gettysburg Connection. February 22, 2023 On February 8, the park discovered an 1863 unexploded artillery shell within the Little Round Top rehabilitation project area. The device was handled by the U.S. Army 55th Ordnance Company team from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, who removed it and destroyed it off-site. Local roads were closed after the discovery and have since reopened. Source: yahoo!news/WHTM
On May 28 at around 7 AM, an employee spotted a "suspicious package" outside the main entrance of the visitor center. The Pennsylvania State Police bomb squad responded and all entrances to the building were blocked off. At 11 AM, the authorities gave the all clear and the museum and visitor center reopened. An investigation into the situation is ongoing, and no other details have been disclosed. Source: WGAL
Some time between February 13 and 19, vandalism was committed "in the northern section of the battlefield at the Benner barn." The park is looking for any information the public can provide. No further details were released. Source: Gettysburg National Military Park
Between December 2023 and January 2024, artifacts were taken from a historical site known as the Timbers farm, on the southern end of the battlefield. The park is looking for any information the public can provide. No further details were released. Source: Gettysburg National Military Park
On August 15, park staff observed graffiti scribed into multiple boulders on Little Round Top. In a separate incident, on August 19, visitors reported that the War Department Observation Tower on Oak Ridge was spraypainted with graffiti. Park staff were able to remove evidence of both acts of vandalism by August 20. Multiple areas around the greater Gettysburg area recently have been vandalized with spray paint. The Gettysburg Borough Police Department is investigating the situation. Source: Gettysburg National Military Park | |