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Danny Dietz Memorial Flack
Navy SEAL Danny Dietz died in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005, fighting al-Qaeda guerrillas. He posthumously received the Navy Cross for heroism. Parents protest military statue in Littleton - With its green lawn, jungle gym and picnic gazebo, Berry Park is an unlikely battlefield, but the local flap over the statue of a fallen war hero set to be placed here brewed into a national conflict Thursday. who said it would be a battlefield?? The Internet, talk radio and cable news spread the word of some parents' concerns about the planned bronze sculpture of Navy SEAL Danny Dietz holding his automatic rifle.they want a dove instead "There's no middle ground here, and that's unfortunate," said Emily Cassidy, one of a handful of Littleton parents who say the statue with the gun should not be near three schools and two playgrounds at the southeast corner of South Lowell Boulevard and West Berry Avenue. No they want warm and fuzzy "We're continuing to try to spread our message," Cassidy said. "The message is not against Danny Dietz, of course not his family or the war. It's location, location and the audience that will view it." This is a great place so that kids CAN see it and learn about him Reached at home Thursday in Virginia Beach, Va., Patsy Dietz, Dietz's widow, said she sympathizes with the message that guns and schools shouldn't mix, especially in the community where the Columbine shootings took place. Don't let these assh*** deter your resolve here But to use her husband to forge such a political statement about guns is irresponsible, she said.you go girl "It's a parent's job, including these parents who are protesting, to teach their children the difference between two thugs who murder their classmates and a soldier who died fighting for their freedom," she said. "Danny represents every soldier and sailor who has fallen, and for them to take this stand, well, that's offensive to me." It's unfuckingbelievable that these parents are comparing this war hero to two thugs that murdered the kids at Columbine. Patsy Dietz found out about the opposition via an e-mail forwarded by Janice Caulfield, the parent-teacher association president at Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education. Caulfield had received the e-mail, which solicited opposition the statue. "They were barking up the wrong tree," said Caulfield, the daughter of a 24-year Navy man and the cousin of a Navy SEAL who served with Danny Dietz. Caulfield said she could not speak for the PTA, but in her opinion admiring a local war hero is good for children. Damn straight! We need our youth to have these hero's to look up to I'll be proud to take my children there, and I'll be glad to show them a hero who died fighting for them and how we live our lives in freedom," she said. The statue of the Heritage High School graduate is being cast at a foundry in Loveland. Sculptor Robert Henderson of Cañon City based it on the last photo taken of Dietz, showing him in a crouched position and holding the rifle on one knee. It is scheduled to be unveiled at the park July 4, the second anniversary of the discovery of his body on a mountainside in Afghanistan. Dietz died June 28, 2005, fighting off dozens of al-Qaeda guerrillas. He posthumously received the Navy Cross for heroism. The opposition to a war memorial is unprecedented in Jim Carrier's experience He is a national board member for both the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund, foundations that help the families of those who die in service to the country. "They are missing the point," Carrier said. "It takes guns to defend our freedoms against terrorists when they are trying to kill you and your children." that's the trouble with these flaming assh***, they continuously miss the point! But those who side with Cassidy see a different depiction. yeah, let's send them over to Afghanistan to talk sense into these terrorists with their doves and Sheehan types "A statue of a soldier holding a child would send a better message," said Calvin Freehling, a Vietnam veteran from Indianola, where's my blood pressure medicine Cañon City sculptor Robert Henderson based his clay form of Navy SEAL Danny Dietz on the last photo taken of him. "An automatic weapon doesn't signify protection. It signifies violence. I'm 64 years old now, and I'm tired of violence." too bad for you Ann Levy of Denver, who calls herself a "peacenik," would like to see Dietz's sacrifice honored in a different way. maybe a beheading would be less offensive? With a terrorist holding a knife? "They should be putting up a peace dove instead," she said. "The question is do we stand for peace or do we stand for war?" I am so angry here I'm doing more than seething. It should be a non issue. They should be grateful that they are lucky to have the memorial in their backyard, for all the children to walk by. Who's that mommy? That's a hero that fought for you and me so that you can have your freedom Posted by: Jan from work 2007-04-06 |
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