Ministry protests WWII memorial

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A religious rights group plans to demonstrate today at the National World War II Memorial, demanding the addition of a plaque commemorating the role that religion played in sustaining the country during the war.

"To think that nowhere on the memorial is there a reference to God, religion, faith or Old Testament scripture is really reprehensible," said the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition.

The absence of religious messages in the 12 quotes carved into the monument, he said, was evidence of the ongoing movement to secularize American culture.

"Faith and religion played as much a role as any other aspect in getting us through those dark and difficult times," Mr. Mahoney said. "It appears that there is a deliberate attempt to remove any reference to God."

The coalition is a nationwide Christ-centered activist ministry founded in 1991 and based in the District.

About 10 people are expected to participate in the demonstration, in which they will display placards with religious quotations by World War II leaders that could have been included in the inscriptions.

Betsy Glick, spokeswoman for the memorial, said the designers did not endeavor to strike religious speech from the monument.

"We had no intent of avoiding that at all," she said. "It was never even discussed. It was never an issue in any way, shape or fashion."

Ms. Glick said she was befuddled about coalition members' saying the memorial was anti-religious after the May 29 dedication ceremony includedreligious remarks by Gen. P.X. Kelley, chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

"Let us pray, let us pray to our chosen God, that our nation's ... memory of their service will never fade," Gen. Kelley said.