The Class of 2011 raised $260,000 for the memorial near Old Main, in honor of veterans who attended Penn State, including Lt. Michael P. Murphy, who was killed in Afghanistan while helping his fellow NAVY Seals escape enemy fire in 2005.
Carl Chindblon, an army veteran and current student at Penn State, told WJAC-TV that he was disgusted by the lack of respect and came to help clean up the memorial after seeing pictures posted on Facebook.
“A lot of BMX tire marks across the bottom, all across the side here. It looked as if they had taken their bikes across the sides,” said Chindblom. “It’s unfortunate.”
Penn State Dear Hero Program Vice President Andrea Knapp told WJAC-TV that she was proud to see other students jump into action so quickly.
“I just couldn’t even believe what I saw. Instantly my reaction was just to get down here as fast as I could with cleaning supplies,” said Knapp.
Anyone with information about the damage to the Veterans Plaza is urged to call Penn State University Park Police at 814-863-1111.