Contact: Jessica Mancari, 202-225-6365

WASHINGTON, April 29 /Standard Newswire/ -- Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) made the following statement after the United States Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in Salazar v. Buono to allow a wooden cross to remain a part of a World War I Memorial in the Mojave Dessert. Forbes, along with other Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, was represented as amici curiae in the case.

"In the Court's plurality opinion authored by Justice Kennedy he said, 'The goal of avoiding government endorsement does not require eradication of all religious symbols in the public realm . . . The Constitution does not oblige the government to avoid any public acknowledgement of religion's role in society.' He could not have been more accurate. Removing the memorial would not only have been detrimental to individuals across the country who have lost spouses, children and parents who are now honored by crosses at war memorials, but it would have begun to unravel one of the most important freedoms our nation was founded upon.

"I am pleased that members of the Prayer Caucus were able to support the freedom of Americans to express their faith, joining as amici curiae in the case, and I applaud the Court for its decision. While I am encouraged by the ruling, the close 5-4 decision should highlight just how important it is to appoint good judges to the bench."

The memorial was originally erected in 1934 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as a wooden cross with a plaque stating, "The Cross, Erected in Memory of the Dead of All Wars" and "Erected 1934 by Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Death Valley Post 2884."

For more information on the Congressional Prayer Caucus visit http://forbes.house.gov/prayercaucus.htm.