North Carolina city removes sculpture of soldier kneeling before cross
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North Carolina city removes sculpture of soldier kneeling before cross
King city officials voted to remove this sculpture depicting a soldier kneeling in prayer before a cross to settle a lawsuit claiming the artwork promoted Christianity. (WGHP)
Until a few days ago, a war memorial in a public park in North Carolina included a metal sculpture depicting a soldier kneeling in prayer before a cross. But city officials voted to remove the sculpture to settle a lawsuit claiming the artwork promoted Christianity.
King, a small city of about 6,000 people 15 miles north of Winston-Salem, dedicated the memorial about a decade ago. But the statue was removed Tuesday night, immediately after The King city council voted 3-2 to end the lawsuit. Now, an empty hole can be seen where the statue once stood.
MyFox8 in Winston-Salem, reporting on the controversy the other day, said the memorial is on city-owned land but was paid for through private donations.
Both sides in this matter wish to avoid further costs, and this agreement will ensure that the City of King will not spend additional taxpayers funds to continue litigation in federal court, the city said in a statement after the vote.
As part of the agreement, the King City Council also said it would stop flying the Christian flag over the memorial and would pay $500,000 to Americans United for Separation of Church and State for the legal costs the group incurred bringing the lawsuit on behalf of local Afghanistan War veteran Steven Hewett.
Hewett explained his reasons for suing in November, the Christian News Network reported Saturday. His lawsuit claimed violations of his constitutional rights.
I proudly served alongside a diverse group of soldiers with a variety of different religious beliefs, he said in a news release. The City of King should be honoring everyone who served our country, not using their service as an excuse to promote a single religion.
The settlement calls for Hewett to be paid $1 in nominal damages.
The Stokes News reported that Kings elected officials were worried about losing the lawsuit and facing higher legal bills, as much as $2 million by one estimate. The citys insurer also was insisting on a settlement.
I feel this city has been sabotaged and bullied by folks who dont believe in what this community stands for, the newspaper quoted City Councilman Wesley Carter as saying when he voted against the settlement. I feel like we have been pressured by insurance companies and attorneys who have never been to King. They dont know what we are about and what this community stands for.
Kings elected officials incensed veterans groups, churches and others in the city in 2010 when they ordered the removal of the Christian flag from the memorial. As part of a protest, the Christian flag started flying everywhere else in the town, including barbecue joints and hair salons. Eventually the city passed a law establishing a lottery system in which citizens could choose what flag they wanted flown over the memorial, including the Christian flag.
City officials say they will now draw up plans for a new kneeling soldier sculpture that does not include a cross, and will ask residents for their input.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/01/11/north-carolina-city-removes-sculpture-soldier-kneeling-before-cross/
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MyFox8 in Winston-Salem, reporting on the controversy the other day, said the memorial is on city-owned land but was paid for through private donations.
A good percentage of the soldiers I served with were of different religions and many different past family nationalities. Race and religion played no part on if they were a outstanding military member or not. Many gave their lives some family members some friends you trusted your life to. The man or woman who has your back in life or death situations was accepted. We never asked their religion race or ethnic background.
I have friends of many races and respect them for who they are nor do I care what religion they are.
How do you get to put a religious monument on public land. Did all churches get to place monuments on this public land. Are all the citizens of the City and County Christians. I seriously doubt it.
It seems to me that the statue is meant to depict a soldier honoring a fallen comrade rather than to promote religion.
Political correctness run amok again.
Extreme PC and multi-culturism has gone beyond the pale. For one, I saw no problem with this statue even though I am not Christian, or with the statue of the 10 commandments that was removed from in front of a courthouse.
Look at this one.
Oh by the way, those headstones are raised on ground previously owned by a southern gentleman that fought tooth an nail to keep slavery as a persons legal right!
Yes brothers and sisters, that is Arlington, Robert E Lee's home. It is also the premier National Cemetery. My father in Law and step father and real father are buried in national cemeteries under crosses.
They need to get a fucking life.
For one, I saw no problem with this statue even though I am not Christian, or with the statue of the 10 commandments that was removed from in front of a courthouse. I didn't either...
Why not address the pic I posted, that is public land also, Seized by the federal government and dedicated to the fallen in the civil war, eventually all American wars.
Why don't we get rid of all those crosses on public lands also?