For years, a woman has displayed a small memorial on her property honoring those who serve. However, the city went after her, demanding that she remove the “obsolete” statue or pay a $1,500 daily fine. Unfortunately for them, she found a way to hit back.
In 2011, Lee Gardela Wood and her family moved onto a property in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois. This quaint piece of land belonged to the Spring Bluff Elementary School until it shut down the same year. Excitedly, the family went to work on the property but wanted to keep the original feel.
Along with leaving the old elementary school sign, the family decided to preserve a small memorial dedicated to those who serve and lost their lives due to the September 11th terrorist attacks. No bigger than a large headstone, the boulder reads “We shall never forget” and lists the memorial’s various donors.
Years after buying the property, Gardela Wood received an unexpected letter in the mail. According to WAC TV, Winthrop Harbor city officials used their executive power to order the homeowner to remove the memorial or face a fine of up to $1,500 per day for what they’ve determined is an “obsolete” display.
The letter stated, “Any obsolete sign shall be removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure, or lot upon which such sign is located within 10 days after the cessation of such business or sale of such product that renders the sign obsolete. You will have 14 days from the date of this letter to bring your property into compliance or face a fine of not less than $125 nor more than $1,500 for each violation and each day’s failure to comply.”
Gardela Wood was shocked that the city would concern itself with her choice of decor on her property. With time against her, she scrambled for ideas to keep the memorial on her land. She said, “I’ve never heard of a plaque being an issue. Some people have plaques in their yard all over the place. It is not gaudy. It is not hurting anybody. I think this is needed. We have a lot of people who are veterans. By the village wanting it gone, it hurts people who come here and reflect or to get away.”
Incredibly, it didn’t take long for the clever woman to come up with a plan to fight back against the city’s overreach. Lee Gardela Wood immediately gathered supportive veterans and headed to the local media with her issue. Soon, she had the attention of not only the entire community but also the city officials.
In a twist of fate, the mayor sincerely apologized to Gardela Wood and confirmed that she would be allowed to keep the memorial without fear of fines. The mayor said in a statement, “Corrective action taken by the owner now confirms that the site continues to serve as an active 9/11 memorial, and therefore the sign is not obsolete as defined by The Village sign code ordinance.
To the extent that any misunderstanding of the actions taken to address the described property maintenance issues may have offended those who are or have served our country, it was not our intent, and we sincerely apologize.”
Gardela Wood was relieved at the mayor’s intervention but adds that the memorial never should have been questioned in the first place. She pointed out the importance of honoring those who lost their lives or loved ones on that tragic day and vowed that she would keep the display as long as possible. She continued, “People worked hard to have that put there. People died on 9/11. It’s not something we can just forget.
The victory comes after a lengthy battle with city officials. Gardela Wood explained that they had been trying to remove the memorial from her property for over a year but were reluctant to do so.
Lee Gardela Wood and the community are celebrating their win against the city. Fortunately, the display will remain in her yard, and those who still wish to honor the fallen of 9/11 by visiting the memorial may do so anytime they please.
Still, it’s disturbing to see government officials injecting themselves into the private lives of the citizens they’re supposed to serve, especially when they should have bigger issues to resolve.
