A complaint to the city of Knoxville has prompted discussion as to whether the silhouette of a soldier kneeling by a cross should be permitted at the Freedom Rock site.

The silhouette is commonly used as a memorial to represent fallen soldiers, but its placement on city-owned property has come under fire in some areas.

Knoxville City Manager Harold Stewart told the city council a person complained about the silhouette, stating the cross was a religious symbol on public property and therefore violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

Stewart adds a letter was received Monday from Americans United for Separation of Church and State, demanding the silhouette be removed.

Earlier this year, this same organization settled a lawsuit with a North Carolina community over the same issue, and that community replaced the cross with a rifle, boots, and a helmet on top, the battlefield sign of a fallen soldier.

The Knoxville City Council will discuss how they want to respond to the letter during their next meeting on Sept. 8th. A copy of the letter is available here.