An atheist group in Utah has filed a lawsuit in a U.S. District to remove steel crosses posted on roads which memorialize highway patrol officers who have died while on duty.
American Atheists, Inc. says that the placement of the 12-feet-high metal crosses on public property along the Utah Highway Patrol beehive insignia on them is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion by the state.
The suit names various officials within the UHP and the Utah Transportation Department. The group seeks $1 in damages and a court order that the crosses be removed, according to the Associate Press. The request has drawn harsh reactions from family members of fallen officers.
Michael Rivers, one of the plaintiffs feels the memorial should be completely secular.
"We feel the department of transportation, by allowing the Utah Highway Patrol Association to pick a religious symbol is unfair. We think it should be totally secular with no religious theme," Rivers said, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
"[The cross] is a Christian religious symbol. People will look at those and automatically assume that religion is a part of it," he added.
The UHP Patrol Association, a nonprofit private organization is supporting its officers.
“Our statement right now without seeing (the lawsuit) is that we stand behind our troopers and the sacrifice they made, which is the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of Utah," said trooper Jeff Nigbur, a Utah Highway Patrol spokesman, according to the Associated Press.
"Obviously we’re going to try to keep those crosses there in their memory," he said.
Some family members say some would be devastated if the crosses were removed.
"Without using extremely bad words, my family would be devastated," said Lori Lucas, whose father Tom Rettberg died while flying a UHP helicopter in February of 2000. "It would be like disturbing and uprooting my father's coffin."
Lucas’ mother visits her husband’s cross next to Interstate 15 about 20 miles north of Salt Lake City, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
“It gives us a sense of pride for my father that he sacrificed his life for the community,” she said.
Dave Tabish, who owns an insurance company based in Salt Lake City was incensed that the group was trying to remove the cross.
“We’ve taken God out of the schools, out of our council meetings and taken the Ten Comandments out of government,” he said. “It’s time we stand up and put God back in our country.”
He says he will organize a march in support of the crosses and picket the courthouse if a court proceeding takes place.
Jason Davis
Christian Today Correspondent