UTICA, N.Y. — For the past decade, a sign that says, “Happy Birthday Jesus, We Love You” has sat outside a firehouse each holiday season.
Firefighters at Firehouse No. 4 in South Utica started putting the sign up after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, WKTV reported. This year, Fire Chief Russell Brooks has received numerous letters from The Freedom From Religion Foundation to keep religion and government separate.
“9/11 brought a lot of the guys closer to God, and they just wanted to show their faith in Jesus,” Chief Brooks said. “They had no idea a controversy would arise.”
FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor released a statement saying: “About 20 percent of Utica citizens are nonreligious and others follow non-Christian faiths, and that includes Utica firefighters. The Utica Fire Department should not send them this exclusionary and alienating message.”
“Pledge of Allegiance has God in it, money has God on it,” Chief Brooks said. “This case isn’t unique.”
He said other departments have a manger on their lawn, but he says it’s the sign that gets all of the attention.