Committee Finalizes Holiday Display Recommendations

On Tuesday, May 8, the Loudoun County Courts Grounds and Facilities Committee (CGFC) finalized the recommendations it will make to a Board of Supervisors standing committee regarding holiday displays on the courthouse grounds.

In a series of votes, the committee approved a mix of religious and secular symbols, including a crèche (Christian nativity scene), Jewish menorah, Christmas tree, holiday greenery, and a display featuring Santa Claus and reindeer. The committee also voted on the size, location and other details of the proposed displays.

The CGFC will present its recommendations to the board’s Finance/Government Services and Operations Committee on Monday, May 14.

Although most of the votes were unanimous, there was some disagreement among committee members about the religious displays.

Committee member Roy Liggett voted against recommending that a crèche or menorah be displayed, saying that only secular displays should be used, in the interest of preventing a lawsuit.

“I don’t believe the courthouse grounds is a public forum,” he said after the meeting. “I believe [the courthouse] is a place to seek justice.”

Liggett said that when people enter the courthouse, they should feel confident that they will receive a fair trial, and that the presence of religious displays might raise doubts for some people.

The CGFC voted to recommend that the county accept a local family’s offer to donate the crèche that has been displayed on the courthouse grounds for many years, and that the county rebuild or acquire a new “shed” to house the display.

During the discussion about the displays, member John Saia recommended that there be no Star of David on the menorah.

“The government shouldn’t prescribe how religious symbols should be displayed,” objected Robert Lynd. But committee chair Clint Good replied that the committee had been charged by the Board of Supervisors to specify details about the displays.

The CGFC subsequently voted to recommend that the menorah not be decorated with the Star of David.

Among the committee’s other recommendations were a Christmas tree to be donated by the Rotary Club of Leesburg, a 15-foot-long display of Santa Claus with a sleigh and reindeer, and holiday greenery, including wreaths and garlands.

The meeting opened with a 30-minute closed session, during which the committee received legal advice from County Attorney Jack Roberts.