There were two separate acts of graffiti vandalism this week, one on a Jefferson County military memorial and the other on a popular Boulder hiking trail. 

The United States Marine Corps Memorial Golden at 16899 W. Colfax Ave. was hit with a graffiti message overnight Thursday just a month before its 47th Annual Celebration. Scrawled in red were the words “Free Gaza” and “Free Hamas.” That came on the heels of a pro-Palestinian rally and march through downtown Denver Wednesday coinciding with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address to members of congress in Washington, D.C.

The memorial is open 24/7. 

“The defacement of this Memorial is not just an attack on a monument, but on the values and sacrifices it represents,” said Paula Sarlls, USMC Memorial Foundation President.

In Boulder, someone spray painted eleven random words on large rocks at the popular Green Mountain Summit. As rangers investigate the vandalism, county parks employees are hand scrubbing them. The area is so remote, they had to hike the biodegradable cleaning materials to the location. 

“Graffiti happens and we work to address it as quickly as we can but given how much this was, it took time for our trail and trailhead crews to mobilize to clean this up,” said Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks spokesperson Phil Yates. “It takes our time away from other trail management.”

Boulder’s mountain parks department started getting photos of boulders with random, multi-colored words painted on them, like “WOW,” “Power” and “Da Bomb.” 

If those who sprayed the graffiti are caught, Yates said that a citation would be issued. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 303-441-3333.

People interested in donating to the USMC Memorial Foundation to help pay for cleanup before the anniversary event may do so online, or here: 

USMC Memorial Foundation

P.O. Box 441126

Aurora, CO 80014