by Howard Goldthwaite • 4 minutes
This week we salute our 34th President: Dwight David Eisenhower, born October 14, 1890 in Denison, Texas. Prior to winning the presidency in 1952, “Ike” was the top military strategist in America’s campaign across Europe in World War II. He not only knew how to fight a war; he also knew exactly what we were fighting for.
I was in New Orleans in August and visited the National WWII Museum, which is truly incredible. While roaming the countless exhibits, I stumbled across a simple letter in a display case. It would have been easy to miss compared to the vintage planes hanging from the ceiling or the tanks parked here and there. But this 80-year-old letter, now brittle and brown with age, was written by Gen. Eisenhower.
In the midst of planning his World War II strategy to end the Nazi death grip on Europe, Gen. Eisenhower sent this secret letter with specific orders to all his commanding officers in the Army and Navy. The letter is dated May 26, 1944—less than two weeks before the invasion at Normandy on D-Day.
As a veteran who had served since World War I, Eisenhower knew all too well that war would inevitably result in widespread destruction across Europe. In this letter, he gave his commanders very specific instructions on what NOT to destroy. In his own words, Eisenhower wrote:
“Shortly we will be fighting our way across the Continent of Europe in battles designed to preserve our civilization. Inevitably, in the path of our advance will be found historical monuments and cultural centers which symbolize to the world all that we are fighting to preserve. It is the responsibility of every commander to protect and respect these symbols whenever possible.”
Monuments Matter Because History Matters
Gen. Eisenhower knew that monuments help future generations remember important events of the past. Without them, it’s easy to forget the lessons of history. (Even Moses and Joshua set up monuments in stone to remind future generations of important events in Israel’s history.)
The Allied Forces were fighting to preserve civilization, which is exactly what monuments in a free society stand for.
When it comes to preserving monuments, First Liberty is on exactly the same page as Eisenhower’s letter. Our Public Arena practice group works tirelessly to preserve important monuments including Ten Commandments displays, war memorials, public nativity scenes, menorahs, and more.
Standing Monuments Remind Us What We Stand For
First Liberty’s Senior Counsel Danielle Runyan, who heads up our Public Arena and Military practice groups, understands the importance of preserving monuments for future generations.
According to Danielle: “The history of our nation is not simply relegated to history books but can be found all around us in monuments, displays, and memorials capturing important events that symbolize, honor, and celebrate the fabric of our American heritage. Without these visual reminders, our ability to meaningfully understand and appreciate historical events and important moments since our nation’s founding would be lost and our patriotism diminished.”
Many of the monuments across America symbolize our freedom, and the costs to achieve it. When a monument is taken down and locked away, it’s a clear symbol that our freedoms have also been taken away.
First Liberty’s most famous monument preservation case (so far) involved a military memorial that had already been standing proudly for almost 20 years before Eisenhower sent out his secret letter. The 40-foot Bladensburg Peace Cross in Maryland commemorates 49 brave soldiers of Prince George’s County who lost their lives in World War I. But since it’s a religious symbol on public land, intolerant enemies of faith insisted it be taken down. One judge even suggested having the horizontal arms of the cross sawed off so it would no longer represent the Christian faith.
Thanks to First Liberty’s victory at the Supreme Court in 2019, this beloved monument’s historical significance was officially recognized, and the Court ruled it must be allowed to remain exactly where it stands.
For our work defending the Bladensburg Peace Cross at the Supreme Court, along with other cases including the Mojave Desert Memorial Cross and the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial, the American Legion bestowed on First Liberty its prestigious Distinguished Service Medal. It now hangs proudly in our headquarters, and below the award is a plaque that lists many of the previous recipients since the award’s inception in 1921. The list includes names such as Harry Truman, Henry Ford, Babe Ruth, the crew of the Enola Gay, Ronald Reagan, Henry Kissinger, Bob Hope, John Kennedy, Jonas Salk, plus several more presidents, generals, etc.
But because we won the award for protecting monuments, the name of one previous recipient stands out: President Dwight Eisenhower.
Just like “Ike” wrote 80 years ago, monuments like the Bladensburg Peace Cross “symbolize to the world all that we’re fighting to preserve.”
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