School official asks American Legion group to remove word 'Christmas' from tree lighting flier

Published May 03, 2016

An American Legion post commander in New Hampshire says he's offended that a new school superintendent asked him to replace "Christmas" with "holiday" on fliers advertising a tree-lighting ceremony.

John Fletcher, a barber in Marlborough, says he has distributed similar fliers to the local school district for years.

Superintendent Robert Malay says in a statement to The Associated Press that public school districts are constitutionally barred from aiding, promoting or endorsing a religious activity.

Fletcher says he got a phone call from the superintendent's office shortly after Veterans Day. He said it made him think about how some veterans paid the ultimate price for defending the freedom of speech.

Fletcher's wife whited-out "Christmas" on 250 fliers distributed to schools in two towns — but didn't add the word "holiday."

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/school-official-asks-american-legion-group-to-remove-word-christmas-from-tree-lighting-flier