When Common Sense Takes A Vacation

Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial,...

Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial, Waregem, Belgium (1937), Jacques Gréber, landscape architect. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There were two stories in the Providence Journal last week (Cross on Woonsocket city property called unconstitutional and Former RI National Guard top official plans rally for Woonsocket cross memorial) highlighting an important local dispute. The stories deal with a Wisconsin group that has sent a letter of complaint to the Mayor of Woonsocket about a war memorial at the Woonsocket Fire Department. The memorial dates back to 1921 and was put there originally to honor those who died defending America’s freedom in World War I. The monument is in the shape of a cross, and the complaint claims that that it is an illegal display of a religious symbol on city property.

Today at 4:30 there will be a rally at the Woonsocket Fire Station in support of the monument. The rally was organized by Lt. Gen. Reginald Centracchio, state adjutant general for 10 years.

The group protesting the cross claims that their involvement is the result of a complaint by a resident of Woonsocket.

This is ridiculous–the monument has been standing for almost a hundred years. Crosses are a traditional way of honoring the dead–they are a cultural symbol as well as a religious symbol. I am sorry if someone is offended by this cross, but there is nothing in the US Constitution that protects Americans from being offended. Is Flanders Field going to be illegal soon (even though it is in France, it honors American veterans)?

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