Gendarmes on night patrol at the Croix de Médavy received an ugly and very bright surprise Monday night when they noticed the “Valois” tank monument had been painted fluorescent pink with anti-war messaging, such as “LOVE” scrawled on the front and an upside-down peace symbol on the back. The word “PEACE” was also sprayed on the plaque in front.

Cleaning up the tank will be a tough process. Jean David Desforges, who is in charge of cultural preservation in Alençon, noted initial attempts to remove the paint were too dangerous because they risked permanently damaging the original livery. Some anonymous figures were able to scrub off some of the pink paint and graffiti on Wednesday, while dry-ice blasting using Cold Jet equipment took place on Friday.

Restoration is expected to run through all of June. Should there be no long-term damage confirmed, the first week will consist of treatment followed by repainting the rest of the month.

“This act is an affront to the symbolism of history,” reads a statement from the Gendarmerie de l’Orne. “An investigation has been opened.”

Valois is an M4A2(75) Sherman used by Free French Forces during the struggle for Normandy. On August 13, 1944, the tank was serving with the 2nd Armoured Division in the Écouché forest when it took several hits from anti-tank fire by the 9th Panzer Division, including one to its 75-millimeter gun barrel. Two soldiers were killed in the attack.

Despite the casualties, the 2nd managed to block off the Germans and capture the forest by the end of the week. The Allies liberated Paris later that month.

The tank was preserved and put atop rocks at the crossroads in 1946. Prior to be covered up by the spray paint, the plaque dedicated Valois to “the memory of the combatants of the 2nd Armored Division who died for France in the Battles of Normandy, August 10–23, 1944”.

Featured image credit: Jean David Desforges