Member of Parliament for Airdrie - Banff, Blake Richards, is condemning recent news that the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France was vandalized with graffiti.

“This abhorrent act is an affront to the thousands of Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice at Vimy Ridge in the service of Canada. Those who committed this appalling act of vandalism should be ashamed of their actions and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Canada and France must stand together in showing that there will be zero tolerance for these actions.”

Richards, who is the Conservative Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs issued the written statement with Pierre Paul-Hus, Quebec Political Lieutenant.

In their joint statement, they underlined that the Vimy Ridge Memorial is a place of reflection and remembrance.

"Their sacrifices played a pivotal role in securing the free, fair, and democratic world that we uphold and cherish today. The memorial and the surrounding grounds should be treated with nothing less than the utmost respect and reverence."

According to some local French media reports, the graffiti appeared on the monument on Tuesday. 

Ginette Petitpas Taylor, the Veterans Affairs & Associate Minister of Defence, also issued a statement about the incident on Twitter.

"I am shocked & appalled that the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, a sacred space honouring the 60,000 Canadians who gave their lives in Europe during the First World War, was vandalized. We are working with French authorities to find the person responsible."

The Vimy Ridge Foundation, also posting on Twitter expressed their disappointment over the incident.

"Such actions disrespect the memory of the 11, 285 Canadians missing in France with no known grave, whose names are listed on the monument," the tweet read.

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial located in Givenchy-en-Gohelle, Pas de Calais, France, is meant to commemorate all Canadians who served during the First World War.

"The Memorial bears the names of those who died in France with no known grave. It is located at the site of Canada’s victory during the Battle of Vimy Ridge," states the Government of Canada's website.

At the base of the Memorial, is a commemoration in both English and French:

To the valour of their countrymen in the great war and in memory of their sixty thousand dead this monument is raised by the people of Canada

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