The organization Americans United for the Separation of Church and State has asked the city of Knoxville to remove a silhouette at the Freedom Rock that shows a soldier kneeling in front of a cross that marks a fallen soldier’s grave because it’s on public land.
Americans United’s Robert Boston finds the argument that a cross is not a Christian emblem to be quite remarkable since it’s the preeminent symbol of Christianity. He says it was used by Christians to find one another when they were being persecuted and that saying the cross is not a religious symbol does a disservice to Christianity.
Boston says the memorial is supposed to represent all veterans, however it doesn’t because it includes only a Christian symbol when those of many faiths have served.
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State sent a letter to the city last month after receiving a complaint about the silhouette from an anonymous citizen.
We have more with Boston on In Depth with Dr. Bob Leonard. Click here to listen.