Segregated Md. WWI memorial creates controversy after accident | News
EMMITSBURG, Md. (WUSA9) One man's call to desegregate a World War I era memorial has created controversy.
The "Doughboy Statue" which honors the service of 135 men who served in Europe during WWI nearly a century ago has stood in the town since 1927. Three black service men are listed at the bottom of a large bronze plaque under the title "Colored Soldiers."
The statue was damaged when a car hit it on June 17.
Resident Robert Rosensteel sees the impending repair as an opportunity to replace the plaque with a desegregated version.
"Why not change that so that it says they served their country just like everybody else," Rosensteel said.
Emmitsburg Historical Society director Mike Hillman says segregation was wrong, but so is Rosensteel.
"It needs to be remembered as is," said Hillman. "Otherwise we never learn from it."
Emmitsburg's town council has not yet taken up the issue.
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