HONESDALE, WAYNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) – A symbol which overlooks the borough of Honesdale is coming under fire.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation has asked the mayor and other borough leaders to remove a large cross and star that sits in a public park.
Many in Honesdale don’t want to see it removed.
High atop Irving Cliff, on land known as Gibbons Memorial Park, a large fixture has stood for decades.
It contains both a star and a cross and can be seen for miles.
It might now have to move.
“That’s insanity to me because that star has been around since I can remember,” Vincenzio Pasvcavage of Honesdale said.
In June, the Freedom from Religion Foundation sent the mayor of Honesdale a letter objecting to the display on public property.
The group says the display needs to be removed because of the separation between church and state.
“I can understand their argument but growing up around here, I like it being up here and I think most people are going to feel the same way,” Paul VanHorn of Cherry Ridge Township said.
The star is traditionally lit up around Christmas.
The cross is lit up around Easter.
The group says the cross “unabashedly creates the perception of government endorsement of Christianity.”
“It’s part of the tradition, we’ve had, as kids, I watched for it when we came out on Friday nights,” Patricia Johnson said.
It isn’t just people who live in the borough of Honesdale who have opinions on the situation.
“I think they should fight it 110-percent because everybody has got their own rights,” Jamey Ryder of Scranton said.
The letter was introduced at Monday night’s borough council meeting in Honesdale but no decisions have been made on whether to remove the display.
“I think they should fight it, honestly, it’s always been there and just because some group is going town to town to fight these religious signs that they put up for holidays, it’s part of the town!” Benjamin Seamen of Equinunk said.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation’s letter says the display could also be moved to a private location instead of being taken down.
There is no word on when Honesdale officials will make a decision on what to do.
