WATERVILLE – An Army M-60 assault tank parked at a site that serves as a memorial to men and women who served in the armed forces was spray-painted with peace signs, an act apparently linked to the war in Iraq.

The vandalism took place Wednesday night or Thursday morning near the rear parking lot of the Bourque-Lanigan American Legion Post off Front Street. Several peace signs were spray-painted in pink on the tank. In addition, “Stop Bush” was sprayed on the cement pad on which the tank rests.

A police officer noticed the defaced tank during a routine patrol at dawn Thursday.