News

House approves bills promoting religion at war memorials

Jan 26, 2012

The House has passed a bill confirming the use of religious symbols at military memorials.

It also approved legislation requiring that the prayer broadcast by President Franklin Roosevelt on D-Day be added to the World War II memorial in Washington.

The first bill would write into law the existing practice of allowing display of religious symbols at military memorials and cemeteries. It was introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter, a San Diego Republican, in response to a federal court decision a year ago that a 43-foot cross at the nearby Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial was unconstitutional

The other bill would direct the Interior Secretary to install a plaque or inscription of FDR's prayer to the nation on June 6, 1944, on the site of the World War II memorial.