Originally, artist Carlos “El Jaguar” Aguilar looked to memorialize 40 Mexican-American veterans with a mural on the side of La Chiquita Restaurant in Santa Ana. But with so much positive response, he decided to add more portraits, ending up with about 200 men’s and women’s faces plastered on a wall. Titled “Heroes Among Us,” the mural is a source of pride and a reminder of the contribution of Mexican-Americans. Aguilar dedicated more than four years to creating the mural, which was recently vandalized for the first time since the artist started the project in 2012.
Black and blue lines now run through the faces of nearly two dozen veterans, who served in both world wars, Iraq, and more. Police say the spray paint is the tag of a local gang. However, taggers do not usually touched the wall to respect the community, according to NBC Los Angeles. Police say they hope to get more answers after looking at security footage.
Aguilar, who feels disappointed by the act of vandalism, plans to restore the mural. He estimates the cost will run up to $6,000.