Vandals damage Perry's Victory memorial in PIB

PUT-IN-BAY — An unknown number of vandals defaced portions of Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial last weekend.Special agents with the National Park Service are offering a reward for information that leads to a conviction, according to a news release. On or about May 13, at least one person scaled a fence surrounding the memorial column, which was closed off for restoration work, and vandalized the final resting places of three American officers who died during the Battle of Lake Erie.U.S. Lt. John Brooks and midshipmen Henry Laub and John Clark were interred on the grounds on Sept. 11, 1913."They are the main reason the 352-foot-tall memorial was built," the National Park Service release stated. "U.S. Park rangers learn their names early in their duty assignments in Put-in-Bay."It's not clear what was specifically done to the memorial, but the National Park Service considers this an act of vandalism. "Hopefully, with help getting the information out, the reward could provide an incentive for someone to call in to help us resolve this," Perry's Victory superintendent Barbara Fearon said. The memorial was also built to honor those who died during the Battle of Lake Erie and to celebrate the enduring peace following the the War of 1812. The lives of those who fought and died during the battle will be honored during an upcoming Memorial Day program, which is set for 11 a.m., May 29, at the national park. Investigators are offering as much as $1,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for the vandalism. Anonymous tips will be accepted. Contact investigators by:• calling 888-653-0009• texting 202-379-4761• submitting a tip online at nps.gov/isb• emailing nps_isb@nps.gov• messaging @InvestigativeServicesNPS on Facebook, or @SpecialAgentNPS on Twitter Reach reporter Patrick Pfanner at pfanner@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @PatPfanner and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterThe sun shines over Perry's Monument in Put-in-Bay.