ICYMI: Memorial Day Crosses Back Up in Hiram

HIRAM, GA -- Just days after it was removed, a public display that uses crosses to symbolize fallen troops is back up in Hiram.

The display, on a piece of public property in downtown Hiram, had been removed earlier this week, after several people complained about religious imagery being used on a public display.

WSB-TV reports that Hiram City Council, which met Tuesday night, agreed with concerned residents who felt the crosses weren't an overtly religious gesture, but merely a symbol of respect for the 79 Paulding County residents who have died in the nation's wars.

Early Wednesday morning, volunteers were on site reassembling the display in plenty of time for Memorial Day weekend.

"Even though these are crosses they don't represent any religious symbols to us," Pamela Cohen, one of the volunteers, told WSB. "It is just an actual memorial for the veterans, and we wanted to come out and help our community because we are 100 percent behind them in this."

Earlier in the week, City Manager Barry Atkinson said his office received phone calls asking if the religious imagery of the display was appropriate on public property.

"It opened our eyes that we missed something here, and we immediately took corrective action," he said to the station.

While Atkinson said none of the people who complained were nasty about it -- and some even offered to donate toward a permanent memorial to Paulding's veterans -- some of Wednesday's volunteers called the display's removal a case of a vocal minority getting its way over a majority that feels differently.

"It’s time we all start standing together, taking a stand, and stand up for what is right ...," resident Eugene McCallie told the station. "The only way we're going to do something about it is for all the regular people to stand up for what's right and do what's right. God put us here for a reason and that's to help each other."

To read and watch video of the original report from WSB-TV, click here.