House Passes Bill Allowing Religious Symbols on War Memorials

Teresa Neumann : Jan 30, 2012
Richard Simon - Los Angeles Times

Now it goes to the Senate where it will take prayer to see it pass.

(Washington, DC)—On January 24, the U.S. House approved the War Memorial Protection Act that would allow religious symbols on federal war memorials.

The bill was initiated in response to a battle in California over a cross which graces Mt. Soledad atop a San Diego memorial. (Mark Boster, Los Angeles Times / December 31, 1969)

"Our Constitution protects the freedom of religion, not freedom from it," Rep. Brian P. Bilbray, a co-sponsor of the bill. "This issue is one that has gone so far that we're actually talking about tearing crosses down over war memorials."

"War memorials, including those with religious symbols, deserve to be protected for what they are: testaments to military service, said Rep. Duncan Hunter, who introduced the bill.