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In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Appeal: 15-2597 Doc: 41-1 Filed: 04/11/2016 Pg: 1 of 39 No. 15-2597 __________________________________________________________________ IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, ET AL., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION, Defendant-Appellee, & THE AMERICAN LEGION, ET AL., Intervenors/Defendants-Appellees. On Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt Division, Deborah K. Chasanow, District Judge BRIEF FOR AMICI CURIAE SENATOR JOE MANCHIN AND REPRESENTATIVES DOUG COLLINS, VICKY HARTZLER, JODY HICE, EVAN JENKINS, JIM JORDAN, MARK MEADOWS, AND ALEX MOONEY IN SUPPORT OF APPELLEES AND AFFIRMANCE Charles J. Cooper David H. Thompson Howard C. Nielson, Jr. Haley N. Proctor COOPER & KIRK, PLLC 1523 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 220-9600 (202) 220-9601 (fax) [email protected] April 11, 2016 Attorneys for Amici Curiae Appeal: 15-2597 Doc: 41-1 Filed: 04/11/2016 Pg: 2 of 39 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TABLE OF AUTHORITIES .................................................................................... ii INTEREST OF AMICI .............................................................................................. 1 ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................. 2 I. THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE USE OF SYMBOLS WITH RELIGIOUS MEANING TO COMMEMORATE OUR NATION’S HISTORY AND TO REFLECT VALUES SHARED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. .................................................................... 2 A. Appellants’ Per Se Rule Cannot Be Squared with Establishment Clause Jurisprudence. ............................................................................ 3 B. Appellants’ Per Se Rule Would Jeopardize Countless Federal Monuments, Historic Places, and National Traditions. ........................ 8 1. WWI Crosses ............................................................................... 9 2. Other Crosses ............................................................................ 15 3. Other Religious Symbols and Traditions .................................. 20 C. Prohibiting the Use of a Cross as a Symbol of Courage, Sacrifice, and Remembrance Is Contrary to the Establishment Clause Because It Evinces Hostility to Religion. .......................................................... 26 II. THE FOURTH CIRCUIT SHOULD REAFFIRM THAT VAN ORDEN SUPPLIES THE PROPER TEST FOR ANALYZING RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS USED BY THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO REFLECT OUR HISTORY AND HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IT. ............................................................................... 27 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................ 30 APPENDIX A ......................................................................................................... 1a Appeal: 15-2597 Doc: 41-1 Filed: 04/11/2016 Pg: 3 of 39 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Cases Page County of Allegheny v. ACLU Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, 492 U.S. 573 (1989) ............................................................................ 8, 23, 24, 25 Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962) ....................................................................... 24 Glassman v. Arlington Cty., 628 F.3d 140 (4th Cir. 2010) ...................................... 29 Hunt v. McNair, 413 U.S. 734 (1973) ..................................................................... 28 Lee v. Weisman, 505 U.S. 577 (1992) ..................................................................... 25 Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1984) ..........................................................passim Marsh v. Chambers, 463 U.S. 783 (1983) ................................................................. 3 McCreary Cty. v. ACLU of Ky., 545 U.S. 881 (2005) ...................................................................................................... 4, 5, 6, 26 Moss v. Spartanburg Cty. Sch. Dist. Seven, 683 F.3d 599 (4th Cir. 2012) ............. 29 Myers v. Loudoun Cty. Pub. Schs., 418 F.3d 395 (4th Cir. 2005) ............... 24, 25, 28 Salazar v. Buono, 559 U.S. 700 (2010) ..................................................... 6, 7, 11, 27 School Dist. of Abington Twp. v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203 (1963) ........................... 26 Town of Greece v. Galloway, 134 S. Ct. 1811 (2014) ......................................passim Van Orden v. Perry, 545 U.S. 677 (2005) ........................................................passim Walz v. Tax Comm’n of New York, 397 U.S. 664 (1970) .......................................... 9 Zorach v. Clauson, 343 U.S. 306 (1952) ........................................................... 1, 2, 3 Constitutional Provisions, Statutes, & Legislative Materials U.S. CONST. amend. I ................................................................................................. 2 5 U.S.C. § 6103 ........................................................................................................ 25 10 U.S.C. § 3742 .................................................................................................................. 17 § 6242 .................................................................................................................. 17 § 6245 .................................................................................................................. 17 ii Appeal: 15-2597 Doc: 41-1 Filed: 04/11/2016 Pg: 4 of 39 31 U.S.C. § 5112 ...................................................................................................... 24 36 U.S.C. § 116(b)(1)............................................................................................................ 25 § 119 ..................................................................................................................... 25 § 301(a) .......................................................................................................... 20, 25 § 302 ..................................................................................................................... 24 § 300101(a) .......................................................................................................... 20 152 CONG. REC. H5244-02, 2006 WL 2009154 (2006) .......................................... 15 H.R.J. Res. 97, 100th Cong. (Nov. 13, 1987), Pub. L. No. 100-164, 101 Stat. 905 ................................................................................................. 22, 23 An Act To Establish the Channel Islands National Park, and for Other Purposes, 1980, Pub. L. No. 96-199, 94 Stat. 67 ................................................................ 23 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Pub. L. No. 108-447, 118 Stat. 3346 ..................................................................................................... 14 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2004, Pub. L. No. 108-87, 117 Stat. 1100 ..................................................................................................... 14 Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act, 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-132, 128 Stat. 1727 ..................................................................................................... 17 Federal Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial, 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-347, 104 Stat. 398 ................................................................................................. 16, 17 Preservation of Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial, Pub. L. No. 109-272, 120 Stat. 770 ....................................................................................................... 14 Other 3d Cavalry Regiment, THE INSTITUTE OF HERALDRY, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, http://goo.gl/dG4q7A .............................................................................. 18 3d Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment, STONE SENTINELS, http://goo.gl/nmKiai ........................................................................ 15 5th Cavalry Regiment, THE INSTITUTE OF HERALDRY, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, http://goo.gl/BQwczk .............................................................................. 18 12th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment, STONE SENTINELS, http://goo.gl/t0rtkT .............................................................................................. 15 iii Appeal: 15-2597 Doc: 41-1 Filed: 04/11/2016 Pg: 5 of 39 13th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment, STONE SENTINELS, http://goo.gl/hq9qYA .......................................................................................... 15 Argonne Cross, ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, http://goo.gl/t3Rvra .......... 9, 10 Bible Quote Carving, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, https://goo.gl/w3B7GY ................................................................................. 23, 24 Canadian Cross of Sacrifice, ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, http://goo.gl/R0wVIJ .......................................................................................... 10 Cape Henry Memorial Cross, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, https://goo.gl/pBrYnJ ... 17 Carved on These Walls, NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL FUND, http://goo.gl/3B5Tr .................................................................................. 22 Chaplains Hill and Monuments, ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, http://goo.gl/GwF7B4 ......................................................................................... 16 City Point National Cemetery, NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION, http://goo.gl/28BKQw
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