MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, December 23, 2002

CITY OF FREDERICK SELLS PARCEL WHERE TEN COMMANDMENTS MONUMENT STANDS TO

FREDERICK EAGLES AERIE #1067

Frederick, Md. --- After almost a yearlong controversy, The City of Frederick agreed to sell a portion of Bentz Street Memorial Grounds to the Frederick Eagles Aerie #1067 today for the appraised value. The motion to sell the parcel of land for the fair market appraised value of $6,700 where the Ten Commandments monument sits was made in an Executive Session on November 20, 2002. The Frederick Eagles originally donated the monument in 1958.

The 12-foot parcel of land that is adjacent to Memorial Grounds, and which was condemned in 1924 for a road-widening project, was the subject of a lawsuit by the ACLU resulting from a Ten Commandments monument, which is located on the property. On December 3, 2002, the ACLU issued a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice after learning that the Board of Aldermen for the City Of Frederick had voted in an Executive Session to sell the parcel of land.

In purchasing the plot of land, the Frederick Eagles Aerie #1067 agreed to several restrictive covenants including; protecting the remains of those interred on the property (it is estimated that as many as three individuals are buried on this particular parcel of land), maintaining the monument with the listing of names of those who have been buried in Memorial Grounds, and providing for the maintenance and upkeep of the land. Last week the City also received a letter of support for the Eagles from the local Veteran Committee that currently maintains Memorial Grounds.

In 1958 the Frederick Eagles Lodge #1067 donated the Ten Commandments monument to the City as part of a media promotion for Charlton Heston’s movie The Ten Commandments. On July 12, 2002, in an effort to correct a situation that the organization felt it was partially responsible for creating, the Eagles made their first offer to the City to purchase the monument.

Once the City announced the land would be sold, Pat Keegin, City of Frederick’s Facilities Administrator, contacted parties who had expressed an interest in purchasing the property via letter. The specific details of the transaction were included in the letter, as well as a copy of the land’s appraisal. At the close of business on Friday, December 20, four bids had been received. Today, Keegin submitted a summary of offers and his recommendation to the Mayor. The recommendation was to accept the Frederick Eagles Lodge #1067 offer. Mayor Dougherty concurred.

“We believe this is the best resolution,” stated Mayor Jennifer Dougherty. “We are grateful that the Eagles are willing to offer this resolution and that the Aldermen were willing to accept this proposed resolution without the cost of litigation. The partnership between the Eagles and the Veterans groups makes this the best possible positive outcome.”

At 4 p.m., Eagles Worthy President, Larry Keyser, Sr., and Mayor Jennifer Dougherty, representing the City of Frederick, signed the deed transferring ownership of the property to the Frederick Eagles Aerie #1067. According to Eagles’ Trustee William Burall, “By purchasing this property to help the community come together, we only are living up to our motto ‘people helping people.’” The Eagles will maintain the park area for the continuing benefit of the people of Frederick and to honor our fallen veterans said Dr. Chris Goodwin, a spokesman for the group.

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