“This just infuriates me. [The removal of the banner] tore my heart out."For background, read After City Bans 'God Signs' Florida Residents Display MORE
-- Ruth Wegner (husband Richard was 20-year postal worker)
“I don’t see what it’s hurting. But I guess we need to be politically correct. It’s just sad.”
-- Mike Lewark, retired postal worker and Vietnam War veteran
“I’ll miss it. It showed the post office was part of America, and God got us to where we’re at. We were proud of it.”
-- Jim Scott, 32-year retired postal worker and former U.S. Marine
Click headlines below to read previous articles:
ACLU Stops Godless Patriotism in New Jersey School
Georgia Sheriff's Christmas Sign Peeves Atheists
Mississippi Police Chief Thanks God at City Prayer Meetings
Louisiana Sheriff Defies ACLU with Fourth of July Prayer
Atheists Threaten Arkansas School so Citizens Pray Publicly
Ohio School Board Wants Prayer, Ignoring Atheists
Prayer Stays in Florida School, Opposing Atheists
-- From "Post office banner removal sparks reaction in Pittsburg" by The Associated Press 2/1/16
The Pittsburg post office took the banner down Wednesday after hearing complaints about it from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The organization said hanging the banner at the post office violated the principle of separation of church and state.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Post Office [Twana Barber] said the postal service removed the banner because postal policy prohibits the placement of notices on postal property unless they’re official government notices.
The Pittsburg Morning Sun reports that a similar banner appeared at a couple of local businesses by Thursday, and a local sign company says requests for more signs have been pouring in.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Pittsburg residents unhappy with removal of 'God Bless America' banner" by Andra Bryan Stefanoni and Sarah Okeson, Joplin Missouri Globe 1/27/16
Postal workers [about 60] paid for the 12-foot-long vinyl banner after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that took down the Twin Towers and killed 2,996 people in New York, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.
Ed Hinde watched as employees took out the eight screws holding the red, white and blue banner to the southeast corner of the post office at Seventh and Locust streets. They rolled up the banner because it was brittle after more than a decade outside.
“After the Sept. 11 attacks, a group of employees came to me and said, ‘Let’s do something’,” recalled Hinde, who served as postmaster from 1987 to 2003. “The employees paid for half of it, and I paid for half of it.”
About a dozen people, including retired letter carriers, members of the American Legion and other Pittsburg residents, watched in silence.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Blessings — More than 1,000 'God Bless America' signs given away as backlash grows" by Michael Stavola, Pittsburg Morning Sun 2/1/16
. . . Jake's Fireworks responded by printing 1,200 "God Bless America" yard signs and 300 similar banners. The company began handing out signs at 11 a.m. and by 11:45 a.m., the signs were gone.
Cars stretched over two blocks. Drivers were eventually met with rows of American flags and a digital sign saying "God Bless America" as they pulled into the company’s driveway at east industrial park, where Marietta and other employees directed traffic and greeted the drivers.
The company had a crew work overnight printing signs, [retail sales director Jason Marietta] said. Marietta knew the demand would be high after a Facebook post was shared 1,500 times. He just didn’t imagine it would be this big.
It took roughly 45 minutes for community members to clear out 1,500 signs, but employees continued to take down contact information to distribute additional signs and banners as they are printed.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Banner Backlash — 'God Bless America' banners proliferate following removal of original from post office" by Sarah Gooding, Pittsburg Morning Sun 1/28/16
Thursday morning, a very similar banner appeared on the fence next to local business Jayhawk Signs and Graphics, another at CDL Electric Company and social media marketing by Jake’s Fireworks promised more to come.
“We hung the banner in support of our troops and to commemorate the 9/11 attacks on America,” said Shea McLaughlin, with CDL Electric. “That banner has nothing to do with religious values or political correctness. It has everything to do with freedom of speech and the foundation that this country was built on.”
McLaughlin said that foundation is the God-given right to be free, along with free speech.
“Sometimes you have to stand up for what’s right,” McLaughlin continued. “In the day and age of political correctness someone has to be a leader and stand up for what they believe in.”
. . . Area residents also showed up at the post office with sandwich boards and flags, earning cheers of support from passers-by.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read 'God Bless Planned Parenthood,' Says President Obama
And read Supreme Court Justice Scalia Says Government Should Favor God of the Bible