A metro area cemetery has been vandalized for the second time in a month.
Someone entered the historic Decatur Cemetery on Bell Street over the weekend and defaced walls, the cemetery gazebo and other areas.
"We found some offensive words and pictures that were drawn on the wall and the gazebo," said Demetrius Whatley, a city worker who maintains the cemetery grounds.
The city of Decatur manages the 58-acre cemetery, which is open to the public. The historic site is listed on the national registry.
Officials say police routinely patrol the sprawling cemetery grounds, but that hasn't deterred vandals who have targeted the historic site.
It's believed someone slipped in late Friday night or early Saturday morning and vandalized the place
A jogger discovered the damage early Saturday, workers raced to clean up the worst of it just hours before volunteers arrived to place flags on veterans' gravesites.
"Every weekend before Veteran's Day they come out and put the U.S. flag on all the veteran markers. We had a lot of volunteers, scouts to come out and help with that," said Whatley.
For the past 10 years, Whatley has proudly maintained the pristine grounds. He said that he can't imagine who would target the cemetery.
"For somebody to do that is upsetting," Whatley said.
Workers used a sandblaster on Monday to try and erase the spray paint.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Decatur police.
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Vandals defaced walls, a gazebo and other areas of the Decatur Cemetery.
