![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Peace-cross-300x169.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nIn an 8-6 vote, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals voted to uphold the lower courts’ decisions for the removal of the Peace Cross in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Originally, the cross was bought with private funds and placed on private land, but the State took possession of it as urban Maryland expanded. From SFGate<\/a>;<\/p>\n Supporters of the Peace Cross, who say it is a secular tribute to local men killed in World War I, vowed to appeal.<\/p>\n “We cannot allow it to be the final word,” said Hiram Sasser, deputy chief counsel for First Liberty, a religious-freedom organization representing the American Legion. “If this decision stands, other memorials — including those in nearby Arlington Cemetery — will be targeted for destruction as well.”<\/p>\n Adrian Gardner, general counsel for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, said in a statement that the state agency would “keep open our option to seek review” by the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n The cross was built in 1925 with money from local families and the American Legion. A plaque lists the names of 49 Prince George’s County veterans and includes the words “valor,” “endurance,” “courage” and “devotion.” The park and planning commission took control of the land in 1961 because of its location at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Maryland Route 450 in Bladensburg. The state agency pays for upkeep and repairs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The suit was originally brought by Steven Lowe, a commuter who was “shocked” by the memorial on his way to work one day when his route took him past the intersection.<\/p>\n The cross has stood for nearly a hundred years and one little snowflake who is obviously easily \u201cshocked\u201d by the sight of the cross, to use his word, then the rest of us are supposed to pay in order to alter his experience, because it\u2019s too hard for him to avoid driving past the cross. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"