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Page Number: 35.0

28 

AMERICAN LEGION v. AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSN. 

Opinion of the Court 

Id., at 577 (opinion of the Court). 
  The practice begun by the First Congress stands out as 
an example of respect and tolerance for differing views, an 
honest endeavor to achieve inclusivity and nondiscrimina-
tion,  and  a  recognition of  the  important role that  religion 
plays  in  the  lives  of  many  Americans.    Where  categories  
of  monuments,  symbols,  and  practices  with  a  longstand- 
ing  history  follow  in  that  tradition,  they  are  likewise 
constitutional. 

III 
  Applying  these  principles,  we  conclude  that  the 
Bladensburg  Cross  does  not  violate  the  Establishment 
Clause. 
  As  we  have  explained,  the  Bladensburg  Cross  carries 
special significance in commemorating World War I.  Due 
in  large  part  to  the  image  of  the  simple  wooden  crosses 
that  originally  marked  the  graves  of  American  soldiers 
killed in the war, the cross became a symbol of their sacri-
fice,  and  the  design  of  the  Bladensburg  Cross  must  be 
understood  in  light  of  that  background.    That  the  cross 
originated as a Christian symbol and retains that meaning 
in many contexts does not change the fact that the symbol 
took  on  an  added  secular  meaning  when  used  in  World 
War I memorials. 
  Not  only  did  the  Bladensburg  Cross  begin  with  this 
meaning,  but  with  the  passage  of  time,  it  has  acquired 
historical  importance.    It  reminds  the  people  of  Bladens-
burg and surrounding areas of the deeds of their predeces-
sors and of the sacrifices they made in a war fought in the 
name of democracy.  As long as it is retained in its original 
place  and  form,  it  speaks  as  well  of  the  community  that 
erected the monument nearly a century ago and has main-
tained  it  ever  since.    The  memorial  represents  what  the 
relatives,  friends,  and neighbors  of  the  fallen soldiers felt 
at  the  time  and  how  they  chose  to  express  their  senti-