thedrifter
04-09-07, 06:33 PM
Critics say SEAL statue glorifies violence
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Apr 9, 2007 18:40:31 EDT
LITTLETON, Colo. — The parents of a Navy commando killed in Afghanistan defended the location of a planned statue of their son on Friday against critics who say it would glorify violence in a park frequented by children.
“What we’re dealing with, what the country’s dealing with, is violent,” said Dan Dietz, whose son, Navy SEAL Danny Dietz, won a posthumous medal for heroism.
“And we need to know that,” the elder Dietz said. “We need to teach our children that in order to have peace.”
The planned statue shows Danny Dietz seated and holding his automatic rifle. It was modeled after the last known photograph of him.
Officials in this south Denver suburb plan to unveil it on the Fourth of July in Berry Park.
A group of parents objected to the location because it is near three schools — an elementary school, a middle school and a school for gifted children — and two miles from Columbine High School, where two teen gunman shot and killed 12 students and a teacher eight years ago this month.
“I don’t think young children should be exposed to that in that way — unsupervised by their parents or any adults,” Emily Cassidy, one of the parents, said this week.
Cindy Dietz, Danny Dietz’s mother, said she prefers the Berry Park location.
“I get to go to the park when I feel I need to, and I get to see a likeness of my son, of the last picture taken of him alive,” she said Friday.
City officials have defended the location.
“Based on the public feedback we’ve had, I think most of the citizens of Littleton feel like it’s an appropriate selection,” City Manager Jim Woods said.
The military said the 25-year-old Dietz was severely wounded in an al-Qaida ambush in June 2005 but fought off the attackers for more than 45 minutes, allowing one of his team members to escape. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the Navy’s second-highest medal.
Ellie
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Apr 9, 2007 18:40:31 EDT
LITTLETON, Colo. — The parents of a Navy commando killed in Afghanistan defended the location of a planned statue of their son on Friday against critics who say it would glorify violence in a park frequented by children.
“What we’re dealing with, what the country’s dealing with, is violent,” said Dan Dietz, whose son, Navy SEAL Danny Dietz, won a posthumous medal for heroism.
“And we need to know that,” the elder Dietz said. “We need to teach our children that in order to have peace.”
The planned statue shows Danny Dietz seated and holding his automatic rifle. It was modeled after the last known photograph of him.
Officials in this south Denver suburb plan to unveil it on the Fourth of July in Berry Park.
A group of parents objected to the location because it is near three schools — an elementary school, a middle school and a school for gifted children — and two miles from Columbine High School, where two teen gunman shot and killed 12 students and a teacher eight years ago this month.
“I don’t think young children should be exposed to that in that way — unsupervised by their parents or any adults,” Emily Cassidy, one of the parents, said this week.
Cindy Dietz, Danny Dietz’s mother, said she prefers the Berry Park location.
“I get to go to the park when I feel I need to, and I get to see a likeness of my son, of the last picture taken of him alive,” she said Friday.
City officials have defended the location.
“Based on the public feedback we’ve had, I think most of the citizens of Littleton feel like it’s an appropriate selection,” City Manager Jim Woods said.
The military said the 25-year-old Dietz was severely wounded in an al-Qaida ambush in June 2005 but fought off the attackers for more than 45 minutes, allowing one of his team members to escape. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the Navy’s second-highest medal.
Ellie