A Colorado town has refused to take down a veterans' memorial following complaints from a church-and-state watchdog group that's opposed to the monument because it includes a Christian message.
Eagle Scout Michael Carlson raised funding to make and install this memorial. Courtesy MRFF
The town of Monument sold five grave plots in city-owned Monument Cemetery to a Boy Scoutâs family in an apparent effort to dodge a First Amendment lawsuit threatened by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
The plots, which cost $800 each, were sold on March 19, Monument Town Manager Mike Foreman says. That was weeks after the MRFF raised objections to a stone memorial monument installed there, with the cityâs help, as the Eagle Scout project of Michael Carlson.
The memorial has this inscription: âOnly two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom. We honor those who made freedom a reality.â
An Eagle Scoutâs project that placed a memorial in Monumentâs town cemetery has stirred debate. Courtesy MRFF
A memorial installed Oct. 3 at town-owned Monument Cemetery as part of an Eagle Scoutâs project drew criticism from local residents, who asked the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) to seek its removal.
Since MRFF urged the town by letter last month to remove the memorial or the religious language and imagery that refers to a specific religion â Christianity â Americans United for Separation of Church and State has joined the campaign.
The monument, funded largely by donations through the VFW Foundation, was made possible through efforts of Boy Scout Michael Carlson, aided by other Scouts and leaders of Boy Scout Troop 8 of St. Matthias Episcopal Church, according to