Massachusetts FD Ordered to Remove Merry Christmas Sign

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

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Permalink Reply by Tony Leonard,Jr. on December 16, 2009 at 4:14pm

This is the reason people came over here on boats centuries ago,FREEDOM FROM AND OF RELIGION,I believe if its the consensus of the members to hang a sign saying Merry Christmas then so be it,but for the government that's elected to protect those freedoms to restrict it is WRONG!!!!!!THESE ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF OUR COUNTRIES FOUNDATION! Just because someone has a bug stuck up somewhere doesn't mean that the government needs to beat everyone else with the stick that's lodged up there as well! Oh,and for those people who know what I mean(jewish,hindo or otherwise).....MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!.May all of You Stay Safe.