Vandals deface roadside memorial to Iraq vet
Sep 25, 2012, 6:48 AM | Updated: 8:14 am
Vandals defaced a roadside memorial dedicated to Sgt. Justin Norton, a Thurston County soldier killed in Iraq. (Image courtesy Iraq War Heroes.org)
(Image courtesy Iraq War Heroes.org)
The search is on for the vandals who defaced a roadside memorial for a a soldier killed in Iraq.
Someone spray painted over the picture along Highway 507 near Rainier honoring Sgt. Justin Norton. KING 5 reports the 21-year-old Thurston county native was killed by an IED in Iraq in 2006.
The family tells KING 5 vandals painted glasses on Norton’s face and blacked out much of the mural originally created in June 2011 by his younger brother and a friend to honor his memory.
“People drive by it everyday and salute it,” said Norton’s stepfather Gary Warnock, “Now they can’t do that.”
Norton’s father Jeff said the damage is heartbreaking.
“They really don’t understand the ramifications of what they’ve done,” he told KING 5.
Police are investigating the vandalism.
“I think in time, whoever did this, it’s going to wear on them. It’s going to eat at them,” said Norton.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Thurston County Crimestoppers, 360-493-2222.
