City Council To Consider Account For Memorial Defense

Woonsocket's City Council will hold a special meeting tonight to consider creating an account for funds to defend against the Freedom From Religion Foundation's demands to remove a cross and relgious symbols from city property.

The fund, named "The City of Woonsocket War Memorial Defense and Preservation Fund," will be used for any legal and related costs generated in the defense of the war memorial at Woonsocket Fire Department Headquarters on a small plot of land, "Place Jolicoeur" and the Fireman's Prayer and image of an angel on the Fire Department website.

The account will be used to secure any donations for the defense of the memorial, image and prayer, said Council President John Ward.

On Monday night, Mayor Leo Fontaine said the city is receiving thousands of e-mails offering support and many requests for directions to the memorial at 5 Cumberland Hill Road.

Retired RI Adjutant General Reginald Centracchio has organized a rally to support keeping the monument as-is, to be held at the site Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

Tonight's City Council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room at . A copy of the resolution has been attached to this article.