Ignorant Effrontery

That's an interesting way for a travelling guest in the tourism category to make an impression on the host country. Treating a significant natural resource that draws visitors by the hundreds of thousands to marvel at stupendous natural geological features as though it is a trifle that can be casually vandalized.

Of course, the man in question, a visiting Canadian, Lucien Lionel Chenier did not feel that spray-painting his name on the Duck on a Rock formation constituted vandalism. Rather, he obviously felt he was honouring the site by adding his name to it. He chose a site that the Grand Canyon national park considers to be culturally significant, as one of the original features of East Rim drive.

The Arizona unit of the National Park Service was alerted to this man's egotistical attempt at eternalizing his name at such a significant site. Imagining that it would remain there forever, a mysterious emanation in glowing red paint, respected and permitted its place in the pantheon of American natural sites of great beauty and esteem.

As he explained to National Park Services Park Ranger David Robinson, he tossed the spray-paint can into the canyon after a tour guide and bystanders noticed what he was doing and began shouting at him to cease and desist. An affidavit from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Flagstaff, Arizona, clarifies that the "Luci" he managed to paint was a mere portion of his name.

He had chosen the Duck on a Rock site purposefully, since "it was so special that if he left his name, then his kids would be able to see it 20 years from now". Mr. Chenier has been charged with damaging United States property in excess of $1,000, and of littering. He was, in fact, on a bit of a sight-seeing tour, having visited a number of spectacular natural sites.

The RV trip he shared with his wife (who might even now be wondering how it was she had joined herself with someone quite so cretinous) began in Ottawa, up through the Yukon to Alaska, down through British Columbia and into the U.S. through Washington State. A dream route, to be sure. He has demurred at divulging what other U.S. parks they visited.

It is entirely possible that some sharp-eyed visitors will come across brightly-lettered tags elsewhere in due course in other parks, spelling out this man's name. Somewhat like shouting it jubilantly from the roof-tops, but more long-lasting. As for the damage done to the Grand Canyon, it will cost roughly $8,000 to remove the paint.

It is at an awkward height and angle which will require a restoration team to approach it with ropes and other safety equipment. The full charge for which, along with an additional penalty should surely be charged to this Canadian visitor to an American geological site of great renown.