Officials in the city of Monument, Colo., sold plots of land in a public cemetery to avoid church-state problems over a Christian memorial on the property.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and Americans United wrote to Monument officials in February after a local Boy Scout erected a monument reading, “Only 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.” The symbol was erected in the town-owned cemetery as part of the young man’s Eagle Scout project.
Last month, Mikey Weinstein, founder of the MRFF, learned that officials had sold the land under the memorial to the Scout’s family. Monument officials say this resolves the matter, but Weinstein responded that it’s not that simple. He has written to town officials demanding to know whether the land was sold at market value and who will maintain the property going forward.
