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Council orders removal of holiday display at veterans memorial; flag to be restored

Town of Newburgh Town Council · November 24, 2025
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Summary

After public comment from a resident who said the veterans memorial had been 'hijacked' by Christian imagery, the Town Council voted to ask the contractor (5 Star) to remove the Christmas‑style display and return the flag to the monument for this year and going forward.

During the public‑comment period Iron Sherman urged the council to remove a Christmas‑style light display and a 'fake Christmas tree' from the veterans memorial, saying the display excluded non‑Christian veterans and that the flag had been taken down. He asked the council to "remove those lights and that fake Christmas tree and put our flag back up where it belongs."

Council members discussed the history of the display, noting that parks staff and the council had approved lights in prior years but that there had also been complaints. Council member Leanna Kaye Hughes moved that the contractor (identified in the meeting as 5 Star) remove the tree/display from the veterans memorial and put the flag back in place for this year; the motion was seconded and the council voted in favor. Council directed staff to follow up with the contractor and ensure the flag is restored at the memorial.

The council’s action was limited to the public display at the veterans monument; no broader policy change on seasonal displays was adopted at the meeting.