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Cross for David Wittig
First, I would like to thank Supervisor Pete Rios for the attention and concern provided, to highlight blatant disregard ADOT and the State of Arizona have shown in removing memorials from Hwy. 60 and Hwy. 177.
About a week ago, Richard Mathews a friend, brought me my brother’s cross which had been chopped off just above ground level, rather than being properly removed. Richard had discovered it when he went to pick up his daughter’s memorial which had also been removed. Neither of us were given any prior notice in any local media about the removal of these long standing memorials. My brother’s cross had been in the location beside Hwy. 177 since shortly after his death in 1983. In those 33 years we had never received any complaints or concern about the placement of his cross.
Wittig Highway Memorial
Wittig Highway Memorial
Wittig Highway Memorial
Fast forward to yesterday (adding insult to injury), my son who works at a mine near Miami, AZ, notified me that a notice of removal has been placed on my Mother’s cross, dated May 3, 2016 (pictures included). Her cross had been placed in that area in early 2000. It was carefully removed by the contractor when that stretch of Hwy. 60 was widened several years ago. This removal was announced and we were given information on where to pick up the cross. At that time, we were instructed, that once construction was complete the cross could be reinstalled as long as it was not inside the fence along side the Hwy. 60. As you can see from the pictures provided, the cross was reinstalled as instructed, outside the fence (off of state land) along Hwy. 60 near Miami.
The zealousness with which these memorials are being removed from this stretch of rural highways made me further question the stated purpose of the removal, “to remove distractions”. As I returned home I checked along the highway for any other potential “distractions“. None of the signs or memorials which did not contain a cross or religious symbol had been touched or received notice of removal. It is beginning to appear that this is “less a matter of roadside distractions and more an issue of religious freedom or freedom of expression.”
Thank you for standing up for our constitutional rights.
Who would think the rural roadsides of Arizona would need defending!!!
/s/ Bruce E Wittig
Queen Valley
Editor’s Note: Not long after we received Mr. Wittig’s letter to the editor, we received the following note from Supervisor Pete Rios. He writes,
Dear Editor,
This letter is simply to express a big thank you to your local newspapers and other statewide media that carried the story on the removal of Memorial Highway Crosses.
Because of the media’s interest in this story and the response from the public to call the Governor’s office, the Az. Dept. of Transportation will be reviewing their policy on highway markers. If they are not a hazard to the motoring public they will be allowed to be displayed.
/s/ Pete Rios
Pinal County Supervisor
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