Updated

Vandals desecrated a memorial to war veterans in Stockton, Calif. sometime in the past week by taking a can of black spray paint to the black marble memorial, photos show.

Fox 40 reported that much of the area around the memorial has been defaced, including a nearby firefighters’ memorial.

“I think it’s terrible that they put graffiti on any of the memorials, but especially veterans,” John Bayley, a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran said. “There are people that’ve lost their lives fighting for our country."

Authorities are asking that anyone with knowledge of the incident call a graffiti hotline: (209) 937-8040.

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