Oil City VFW Welcomes Tyrants Bench Home During Monday Night Ceremony

| July 4, 2017

OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – The Tyrants Bench has returned to its home.

With hundreds of people watching, the Oil City Veterans of Foreign Wars welcomed their 2003 donation to the city home to its headquarters in a ceremony on Monday evening.

According to a previous article on explorevenango.com, the Oil City Council voted unanimously at an April 27 meeting to remove the Tyrants Bench from Justus Park. As per the Oil City VFW’s wishes, it was returned to the VFW, in addition to another bench and a memorial.

Tyrants Bench

Nearly 100 Patriot Guard Riders, a volunteer, non-profit organization which ensures dignity and respect at memorial services honoring Fallen Military Heroes, first responders, and honorably discharged veterans, escorted the bench from the Rocky Grove Fire Hall in Sugarcreek where it was stored.

Ken Tenney, a Ride Captain in Training for the Patriot Guard Riders, spoke briefly of his organization’s involvement.

“We were formed to create a barrier between the protesters and the families of the fallen when they were being memorialized,” Tenney said. “And, today we are honored to be here.”

Reed stated he was proud that the Oil City Mayor Bill Moon brought the problem to him.

“I proposed, give us the whole memorial back. We didn’t just donate a bench to the city – we donated an entire memorial,” Reed said. “Let’s keep it together and after a short discussion, the decision was made.”

“On behalf of the city, council and the city manager, want to thank the leadership of the VFW for working with us to resolve this issue,” Moon added.

Setting Tyrants BenchJim Eakin, his wife Francine, and son, Brian, who run Franklin Granite Works, transported the bench and completed the installation at the VFW.

As the memorial stone was uncovered, the last step in the process, VFW Commander Jason Reed yelled, “It’s home!”

The stone is inscribed with “In memory and honor of all Oil City men and women who served in the Armed Forces of our country.”

Reed spoke warmly of Eakin.

“Every time I asked him how much we owed him, he always said ‘Nothing.’”

The VFW did present Eakin with a $500 check for his company’s efforts.

“I’m just humbled to be a part of it,” Eakin said.

Jane Ritchey, chairperson of the Venango County Tea Party Patriots, spoke passionately.

“The tyrant has proven the message of the bench,” Ritchey said.

Richey took a moment to read the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and thanked the Venango County VFW for its $15,000 pledge toward the cost of possible litigation. She also thanked the Liberty Council, which pledged to represent the city in any possible litigation.

State Rep. Lee James was appreciative of the VFW’s efforts.

“We are very grateful to the VFW for ensuring this bench has a permanent home in the city,” James said.

Oil City VFW New MemorialThe city placed the memorial and bench in Justus Park after the donation in 2003.

The City of Oil City was first asked to remove the bench in a November 3 letter from the American Atheists Legal Center (AALC), which claimed the display likely violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion.”

Members of the community responded strongly while the city tried to decide if the case would be taken to court.

Ultimately, the potential cost of a lawsuit proved to be a factor the city couldn’t overlook.


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