Parents Protest Statue of War Hero

http://www.denverpost.com/mobile/ci_5595985

Parents protest military statue

Parents oppose image, location of memorial

By Joey Bunch and Carlos Illescas
Denver Post Staff Writers
Article Last Updated: 04/05/2007 08:32:16 AM MDT

A Littleton group says the depiction of Navy SEAL Danny Dietz, killed in '05, glorifies violence and is too close to three schools. (Special to The Post)

A group of Littleton parents is opposing the design and location of a memorial to a fallen local Navy SEAL, Danny Dietz, who died in combat in Afghanistan two years ago.

They say the statue, depicting Dietz clutching an automatic rifle, glorifies violence. In Berry Park, it would be within blocks of three schools and two playgrounds.

"I don't think young children should be exposed to that in that way - unsupervised by their parents or any adults," said Emily Cassidy, one of the mothers.

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Dietz's father said the family is devastated by the uproar.

"It broke our hearts," said Dan Dietz, who still lives in the area. "My son was fighting for her freedom to do exactly what she is doing. She put my son in the same category as Columbine. How does she have the audacity to do that?"

 

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200704/NAT20070410a.html

Hero's Statue, Weapon Included, to Stand Despite Criticism
By Fred Lucas
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
April 10, 2007

EXCERPT

(CNSNews.com) - A fallen hero from the war in Afghanistan will be honored as planned with a statue in his hometown of Littleton, Colo., city officials confirmed Monday.

A row erupted last week when two women raised concerns about the location of the statue honoring Danny Dietz, a Navy seal who was ambushed and killed during combat in Afghanistan two years ago -- because the statue depicted him holding a rifle. The statue, sculpted by artist Robert Henderson, was modeled after a picture of Dietz.