Tampa - Guardians of American History recently teamed up with other groups to file "Friend of the Court" briefs supporting Defend Arlington's appeal regarding the illegal removal of the Reconciliation Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
Guardians joined with The Virginia Council, Hood’s Texas Brigade, Re-Activated, and Veterans Monuments of America. Separate briefs were filed by The Foundation for Moral Law, and The Society for the Preservation of Jewish Civil War History.
“We were thrilled that so many groups took an interest with so many important arguments” said Appellate counsel Kirk D. Lyons, Esq.
Friend of the Court or “amicus” briefs are submitted to assist an appellate court by offering additional, relevant information or arguments the court may want to consider before making their ruling.
Guardian's combined brief argued multiple points including the ill “treatment of Yesterday’s Military Combatants” was “Counter-Productive to U.S. National Defense”. It further argued that the Department of Defense “frustrated national historic preservation policy and contributed to the proliferation of Cancel Culture”.
The Foundation for Moral Law’s brief focused on religious liberty but concluded that “Sadly, the Reconciliation monument – erected in 1914 to reconcile and bring closure to harsh feelings about the War, and to honor those who fought bravely for their homes and families – is now being sacrificed on an altar of political correctness. Not only is Arlington National Cemetery being deprived of what is arguably its most impressive and beautiful work of art, but the relatives and survivors of those who are buried in that section of the Century are also being deprived of this Monument to their ancestors, all because someone things they should not have to be exposed to ideas with which they disagree”.
Among the concerns raised by The Society for the Preservation of Jewish Civil War History, was criticism of the Biden-Harris Administration for violating its own June 2, 2023 strategy to counter antisemitism. “One cannot fail to see the hypocrisy that while the Biden-Harris antisemitism initiative was underway, the largest department in the Executive Branch…was marching double time toward its antisemitic target: the removal of the headstone of a prominent American Jewish artist and veteran, indeed the only sculptural work designed by a Jewish artist at Arlington National Cemetery, The Reconciliation Monument”.
The Appeal on the Arlington Monument is pending in the DC Circuit Court and the next step in the case will be the Defendants’ answer to Defend Arlington’s appeal.
Defend Arlington was established as a citizens group in 2022 to inform the public about the Naming Commission’s recommendation to take down the 1914 “Reconciliation” Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, and to understand the recommendations. Upon its illegal removal between Hanukkah and Christmas 2023, the Committee shifted its focus to restoring the removal, and the lawsuit is one component of the effort.
More Information: www.defendarlington.org.
Guardians of American History work to preserve our American History including historical assets pertaining to America and the United States. Based in Florida, the group is primarily focused on Florida history, but is also involved in nationally-important cases of iconoclasm and cancel culture.
More info: www.historyguardians.com
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