The Freedom from Religion Foundation, an atheist group headquartered in Wisconsin, is demanding that city leaders in one Oregon community remove a Vietnam War memorial that is topped by a Christian cross.
“We have no objection to the veterans’ memorials,” said FFRF attorney Rebecca Markert, in a letter to Coos Bay City Manager Rodger Craddock, as quoted in Fox News. “Our objection is to the message of endorsement of Christianity over other religions and non-religions.”
The memorial has stood for 41 years, Fox News reports. It’s been prominently displayed in Mingus Park since 1972. City officials say a handful of people have complained over the years. But the threat of legal action from FFRF is pushing the local government to schedule a meeting on the matter and consider their options.
“This is an outrageous assault on the veterans who served in Vietnam,” said Hiram Sasser, director of litigation with the Liberty Institute, in Fox News. “Why must these activist groups’ culture war spill over onto the veterans and their memorials? All they ever did was serve our country and provide the very freedom these activist groups claim as their own.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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