Littleton – The parents of fallen soldier Danny Dietz stood firm Friday on plans for a memorial sculpture despite late objections that its location near schools and a playground sends a message of violence to kids.
“Our son attended those schools,” said Cindy Dietz, mother of decorated Navy SEAL DannyDietz, killed in combat nearly two years ago in Afghanistan. “Without us parents teaching children what our heroes are doing for us … you can’t shelter them from that.”
But theDietzes also defended the protesters’ right to object.
“This is what Danny died for – for people to have dissent and be able to protest,” said Dan Dietz, the soldier’s father. “We see their point of view, and we respect their right to have that point of view, because this is the United States.”
Linda Cuesta, an anti-gun advocate and mother of a student who was at Columbine High School during the 1999 shootings there, recently raised objections with the Littleton City Council along with some other parents.
They stressed that they have no issue with the Dietz family or with honoring a war hero, but don’t feel the sculpture of the soldier bearing combat weaponry is appropriate for the Berry Park location.
At a brief news conference Friday, the Dietz family defended the design and location of the sculpture, which was derived from one of the last photographs taken of Danny Dietz, 25, before he died in a June 28, 2005, ambush.
He’s shown holding his weapon at rest.
“What we thought of,” said Dan Dietz, “was to portray the courage and bravery of the young men who are protecting our freedoms.”
Cindy Dietz said she’d like for kids to focus not on the weapon, but on the person holding it.
“I would hope they’d gaze into the face of that hero,” she said.
Public backlash to objections about the sculpture may have quashed the debate. Although Cuesta didn’t return a phone message Friday evening, she left an earlier voice mail hinting that she’ll drop the matter in the wake of sometimes vitriolic response.
“This has turned into such an adversarial and hate-filled thing, I’m not going to be part of what’s going on,” Cuesta said.
Staff writer Kevin Simpson can be reached at 303-954-1739 or ksimpson@denverpost.com.
