Peace Cross Bladensburg, MD

The battle to save the Bladensburg Cross is still going on.

The Bladensburg Cross was dedicated in 1925 to honor 49 men from Prince George's County
that perished in WWI. The Memorial was funded by local residents and The American Legion.
It is now owned by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

The Memorial is listed as a nomination on the National Register of Historic Places by the
Prince George's County Historic Preservation Committee in April 2015.  The Peace Cross
is listed as an Historic Place, but is not yet listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The American Humanist Association and three individuals filed a lawsuit in 2014 asking that
the Memorial be removed because of its implied religious nature as a Christian symbol, thus
violating their Constitutional rights. The Cross is located on property owned by the State
of Maryland; and the plaintiffs said it goes against the First Amendment.

A very brave woman Renee Green is spearheading the effort to save the Memorial. In an
interview she said "In order for people to make a decision, they had to know the history.
They have to understand it." Green went on to say "It's a WWI Memorial dedicated to the
49 men who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It represents peace."

In January 2015 Renee Green submitted another application for the Memorial Peace
Cross to be nominated to the National Register and it was accepted.

Although the Memorial's application has been accepted this does not stop the lawsuit, so
it will continue to drag out for some time.

More information can be found at www.savethepeacecross.com
There is also an official Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-The-Peace-Cross/1539886132901090

Our Veterans should never have a Memorial or Monument that is dedicated to those who served
our country moved or violated in any manner. Those who served did so at the risk of
their lives, and so many did give their lives to protect our Nation.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman Emeritus American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Veterans Memorial In Danger

Another Veterans Memorial is in danger and facing possible court action. Might it have to moved?

This time it is a tribute to WWI veterans who gave their lives for our country. The memorial is
facing the same old problems that have beset other memorials. Some people just do not like
it and are attempting to have it removed, citing separation of church and state.

In Blandensburg, Maryland the  forty foot tall Memorial Peace Cross is a well know landmark that has 

stood for over 85 years.

The monument honors 49 men from Prince George's County that lost their lives in WWI, the cross

was dedicated July 13, 1925 by Snyder-Farmer Post of the American Legion.

The Cross sits at the intersection of Baltimore Avenue and Annapolis Road, which places it on state

property. 

A group based in Washington,  The American Humanist Association, wants to have the memorial

removed. Claiming a religious image on public land violates the principle of separation of church

and state under the constitution. 

Veterans organizations and some civic groups are fighting to keep the Memorial standing where it

is. The local park and planning commission is researching the legal issues.

The Cross has a large gold star in the middle, around the base are the words Valor, Endurance, Courage,

Devotion. Also are inscribe the names of the 49 Heroes. A bronze tablet contains the famous quote

by Woodrow Wilson: "The right is more precious than peace. We shall fight for the things we always

carried nearest our hearts. To such a task we dedicate our lives."

Standing tall in memory, it is close to the WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam memorials and the heart

of our nation. 

So it continues, the attack on our veterans, our heroes and our memories. We can not just sit by

and watch as more freedoms are take away.

Wake up America before it is too late

---- Jerald Terwilliger Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996