UTICA – When firefighters at the Shepherd Place firehouse display a homemade sign every Christmas that states “Happy Birthday Jesus – We love you,” people notice.
For some people, the sign serves as an inspiring reminder of the meaning of Christmas.
For others, the placard has sparked questions of whether such a display is appropriate for a public facility.
Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks said the two or three negative letters he has received this year pale in comparison to the outpouring of cards, baked goods and friendly words the sign has prompted.
But one person recently contacted a local chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, which then brought the issue to the attention of City Hall, officials said.
According to several U.S. Supreme Court decisions in the 1980s, as well as President Richard Thompson of the Thomas More Law Center, the Utica Fire Department is well within its right.
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