Plano, TX- The American Legion, the world's largest veteran service organization, filed an amicus brief in the Mt. Soledad Cross case, Paulson v. Abdelnour et al.
"We are particularly concerned in this case that a dangerous precedent could be set that would endanger veterans' memorials across America, perhaps even the nine thousand crosses that mark the final resting places of our World War II heroes at Normandy Beach," said Thomas L. Bock, national commander for the American Legion.
The case, which has been in litigation for years, resulted when the American Civil Liberties Union sued to get a cross memorial in San Diego, California removed. After winning in a lower court ruling, the city was ordered to remove the cross by Aug. 1, 2006 or pay $5,000 for every day it remained.
The memorial is a 43-foot cross erected in 1954 to honor American veterans of war who gave their lives fighting for the country.
"It is a travesty that our nation's war memorials are under attack," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel for Liberty Legal Institute. "This is a disgrace to our veterans, and we will not stand idly by and watch it happen."
Oral arguments are scheduled for Oct. 16, 2006 in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
"It is a national tragedy that there are those that would dishonor the sacrifice of countless veterans from D-Day and Pearl Harbor to the Persian Gulf in a shameless effort to desecrate veterans' memorials in the name of Godlessness," said Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Legal Institute.
The Liberty Legal Institute represents the national American Legion and is filing this brief jointly with the California American Legion, which is represented by the Alliance Defense Fund.
"If the veterans of our country do not prevail in this fight, the only question is which memorial will come under attack next," Shackelford said. "This has to end now."
CLICK HERE for a copy of the brief.
###