In this photo provided by the Office of Public Affairs, Manchester VA Medical Center, a Bible is displayed at the Manchester VA Medical Center in Manchester, N.H. Two organizations are fighting over the display of the Bible at the medical center. The Bible was carried by a prisoner of war in World War II and became part of a memorial and was later removed after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation objected. WMUR-TV reports another group, the Northeast POW-MIA Network, wants to put it back. (Office of Public Affairs, Manchester VA Medical Center via AP)
Republished February 28, 2019 - 1:23 PM
Original Publication Date February 28, 2019 - 11:31 AM
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Two organizations are fighting over the display of a Bible at the Manchester VA Medical Center.
The Bible was carried by a prisoner of war in World War II and became part of a memorial at the medical centre. It was removed after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation objected. WMUR-TV reports another group, the Northeast POW-MIA Network, wants to put it back.
The Missing Man Table memorial honours missing veterans and POWs. The foundation said the Bible's presence was intolerable and unconstitutional. The medical centre put the Bible in a display case.
Paul Martin of the POW-MIA network said the donated Bible is not just a religious artifact but that it means that the prisoner of war held onto faith and hope that he could be brought home.
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Information from: WMUR-TV, http://wmur.com
News from © The Associated Press, 2019