Veterans Monument Causing Controversy in Newburgh
By: Nichole Berlie
Updated: March 30, 2007
A veterans monument about to go up in Newburgh is at the center of a community controversy.
Army veteran Michael Brady of Newburgh says monument planners are leaving out an important part of American history - POWs and MIAs.
Brady is part of the monument planning committee.
He says the original project design called for 3 separate flagpoles and flags, one being the POW-MIA flag.
Brady says the design has been changed to only one flagpole, flying the American flag.
He says thats a problem because a $2,250 American Legion Riders donation for the project specifically requested the POW-MIA flag.
Committee Chair Shari Sherman says says although the donation originally came with the request for the POW-MIA flag, the group later agreed to just the American flag.
Sherman says they changed the design to be inclusive of all veterans.
Brady says regardless of the disagreement, he wants to see the monument built .
The POW-MIA flag issue will be re-addressed at next weeks Newburgh council meeting.
