Vandals hit Veterans Park in Lynnwood

Published 9:14 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2015

LYNNWOOD — The scene frustrated the Army veteran.

Max Fischbach was on his morning walk Sunday when he passed through the Lynnwood Veterans Park where he found small flags pulled from the ground and strewn about.

Plants and shrubs were yanked from the dirt.

Halogen lighting for the American and MIA flags had been smashed.

Litter was dumped.

Fischbach put the flags back in place and called police.

“It was clearly another attack on former, current and future members of the U.S. military,” Fischbach said.

Lynnwood police took the report, which they are investigating as a malicious mischief complaint. Damage was estimated at $500, Lynnwood police Sgt. Sean Doty said. So far, there’s no suspect information to follow.

Information can be provided to Lynnwood police at 425-670-5600 or by submitting a crime tip through the department’s website.

“Vandalism like this is always pointless and sad to see, but it is especially deplorable given the location of where this occurred and what Veterans Park represents — a memorial meant to honor our veterans,” Doty said.

Veterans Park is on the city’s Civic Center campus south of the Lynnwood library.

In 1999, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 began working on the memorial in the plaza to honor veterans of past wars.

The vandals also left some graffiti. The site was cleaned up the next day.

“Our crews were able to get out and get it addressed first thing on Monday morning,” city spokeswoman Julie Moore said.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.