A palm tree just outside the main entrance to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was stripped of its fronds Monday night and the leaves left arranged on the ground to spell out SOS.

A beer bottle was placed on top of the tree and several bottles were strewn around the area.

Gene Castegnetti, director of the cemetery, said workers discovered the vandalism about 6 a.m. yesterday.

Castegnetti said he believes a disgruntled person may be striking back at the cemetery.

Recreational use of the cemetery is prohibited by Veterans Affairs regulations, and Castegnetti said there have been several incidents in recent months in which cemetery security guards have had to enforce rules against bicycle riding and jogging.

Mostly, Castegnetti said, there is no problem with compliance. But he said there have been a couple of instances when an offender has felt challenged and words have been exchanged.