Vet presses point about memorial, wants cross off of monument in King

KING (By John Hinton, Winston-Salem Journal) - An Afghanistan war veteran who complained about the Christian flag being flown at a Veteran’s Memorial also wants the city of King to remove a cross from a smaller monument showing a soldier kneeling next to a grave.

The veteran, who lives in King and whose name has not been made public, complained about the cross Friday in a phone call to the city, Council Member Charles Allen said. The veteran’s second complaint is the latest salvo in the controversy over what can be displayed on public property.

City officials have received dozens of phone calls and e-mails from residents who are upset about a decision by the King City Council last week to remove the flag from the memorial at Central Park. More than 200 people attended a protest rally at the memorial on Monday night to urge the council to reconsider its vote.