A U.S. Park Service employee works to clean graffiti off of the Washington Monument, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, in Washington. U.S. Park Police spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Rose said that the messages written in permanent marker were discovered over the holiday weekend at the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Park Service says graffiti has been found at the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial.
U.S. Park Police spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Rose said Tuesday that messages written in permanent marker were discovered over the holiday weekend. Similar graffiti was found on a power box along the National Mall.
Rose says the message written on the Washington Monument references President John F. Kennedy's assassination and the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Park service spokesman Mike Litterst says because of similarities in what's written and the handwriting, it's thought the graffiti was left by one person.
The Washington Post reports that workers estimate cleaning will take about two weeks. The newspaper reports that officials believe it happened Saturday night and are pulling surveillance video.
Graffiti is seen near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, in Washington. U.S. Park Police spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Rose said that the messages written in permanent marker were discovered over the holiday weekend at the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Associated Press
With the Lincoln Memorial in the background, people look at graffiti on the Washington Monument, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, in Washington. U.S. Park Police spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Rose said that the messages written in permanent marker were discovered over the holiday weekend at the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Associated Press
A news videographer works to tape the graffiti on the World War II Memorial, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, in Washington. U.S. Park Police spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Rose said that the messages written in permanent marker were discovered over the holiday weekend at the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Associated Press
Graffiti is seen on the Lincoln Memorial, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, in Washington. U.S. Park Police spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Rose said that the messages written in permanent marker were discovered over the holiday weekend at the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Associated Press