I have a friend memorialized on the veterans wall east of the courthouse. He was a thoughtful, intellectual and spiritual support for many people from diverse backgrounds. He was a veteran of World War II and born in Hawaii of Japanese descent. He endured many acts of hate following our country’s war with Japan. His trip to Washington, D.C. on a Jasper County Freedom Flight was the first time he felt like an American. Think about that. He was in his 80s, a natural-born citizen and didn’t feel like an American until he was in his 80s.
When my friend went into the Des Moines VA for his final illness, I went to visit. During my first hospital visit, he proudly listed all nine U.S. Supreme Court Justices. He may not have felt like an American, but he was a believer in our Constitution and our system of justice.
We should all be familiar with a founding concept of our country, that being the separation of church and state. My friend was not a Christian. We need to remember that many who serve in our military are from other belief systems and religions, organized and unorganized. One of the freedoms our veterans served to protect was the freedom of religion. I do not know how many Christians have their name on the veterans’ wall. I do not know if there are nonbelievers or people of other religions on the wall. I do believe that we should be respectful of all of our veterans and should honor the separation of church and state on our government property.
I believe when the memorial rock is repainted that the crosses, as Christian symbols, should not be repainted on that rock. If people still want the rock with crosses, then the rock should be placed somewhere other than on government ground.
Linda Wormley
Newton