NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - An annual "Merry Christmas" sign on a North Andover fire station has been ordered removed.


Town officials told firefighters last week to take down the homemade sign after they said people complained.

Fire Chief William Martineau said Monday that the sign was made by firefighters about 50 years ago and never had been an issue before.

The order comes a week after selectmen voted to allow a menorah display on the town common for only one day instead of all eight days of Hanukkah. They said a new town common policy only allows displays to stay up for one day, no matter what they are.

Town Manager Mark Rees said the town's public buildings should not be displaying things specific to a particular religion.

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Information from: Eagle Tribune, http://www.eagletribune.com

Related
Bah! Humbug!: Town outlaws Merry Christmas sign


Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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What happened to freedom of expression and religion. That is what is granted to us under the Bill of Rights and that is what our troops are fighting for FREEDOM.

Nothing happened to your rights, nothing. Tell me you still don't have the right to worship how you please. Tell me you don't have the right to walk up and down the street saying Merry Christmas. Tell me how you can't put a religious display in your yard. Nothing happened to your rights.
That is complete Horse Crap
If these are the things this country is worrying about, we are in big big trouble. By the way Merry Christmas everyone

Then again if these are the discussions FF's worry about, then surely we are in trouble.
John,
What is troubling about FF's discussing this issue?
There is no trouble with discussing the issue, but what is it about this issue, or career vs volly, helmet color, lights and so forth that become such "discussed" topics? Meanwhile NIOSH reports, RIT, MAYDAY, scenarios and so forth rarely get touched. No one has a thought or opinion about those? Few seem to find those discussions important even though they have something to offer directly impacting the fire service? That is the issue I see.
Unbelieveable! What is this counrty coming too? This is totally wrong, Unreal!
Thank God Im a christain.
Hey its about beliefs right? What if I still believe in Santa are they going to make us keep Santa out of the Fire house? Get real? I'd like to hear from those who oppose. I have never heard from them. I only hear that 'someone' opposed it. Show yourself!
That is because Santa is a secular symbol, not religious.
The same thing goes on up here in the great white north, in my opinion I think its rediculous and things are gonna become more heated before they get better. Lets worry about whats really important here instead of worring about hurtin someones feelings. It used to be a free country, dont know what my kids are gonna have to put up with if this "stuff" continues.

Cheers.
It's time that we take back America and chase out the rift raft. Wake up America, is Hitler running the country??? I say put the sign up and fight for our right's- Freedom of Speach!!!!
Larry Curtis
As (I'm assuming) you're a native-born american) it's spelled Speech, not the "Speach". And "rift raft" is actually spelled riffraff–noun
1. people, or a group of people, regarded as disreputable or worthless: a pack of riffraff.
2. the lowest classes; rabble: the riffraff of the city.
3. trash; rubbish.
Never ceases to amaze me that people that are so afraid of "immigrants" manage to speak and write so poorly.

Since I've disagreed with most in here on this topic, I guess I would be considered one of those "...rift raft". Love to see you try and chase me out.
Obviously you didn't bother to read any of the comments or you would have seen that the sign was put back up. I'm also pretty sure you didn't bother to find out what the issue really was about. Just one of your knee-jerk reactions I'm betting.
dude are you kidding me! We know there were other holidays all over the ancient world.Chirstmas is not and never was a pagan holiday. We are talking about right here right now in this country! People have lost their mind over this stuff. No not every one is a Christian , but the majority are and if you are not then do not partake in the season ,they need to mind there own damn business . These are people who are out to make a point and nothing more.

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