There is currently a petition to remove the John R. Monaghan statue from downtown Spokane. We, the undersigned, strenuously object to its removal.
Ensign Monaghan was a Spokane native who sacrificed his own life in an attempt to save another U.S. Naval officer and his commander Lt. Landsdale, during a conflict in Samoa in 1899. He was so respected by the U.S. Navy that they christened the USS Monaghan in his honor, a torpedo/destroyer which was at Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway, among others. He should be admired not defamed for his action!
The petitioners want the removal of the statue because it "commemorates a war that was not honorable" and "serves as a constant reminder of a painful past" to the Pacific Islander communities of Spokane.
While other wars in our history might also be considered by some as "unjust", should we then remove monuments to the heroic fallen who served their country under the command of their superiors? Should we remove the Vietnam Wall if American Vietnamese citizens find it painful to view? Or what about the Korean Memorial in Washington D.C.? Should we decimate the WWII memorial? There was and is pain for the soldiers, families and others who feel the hurt these wars/conflicts create, whether they are referred to as "just" or "unjust". In daily life those WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans live with war daily - knowing those who never returned or have returned with horrible physical injuries or mental anguish. So many have died trying to save others. These are our American heroes who should be praised and never forgotten.
These monuments stand as a testament to the bravery of our men and women in the Armed Forces. They reflect the historical nature of the conflicts – not the current political stance. All wars are painful and cause heartbreak and suffering to those who live through them – or die because of them. To tear down these markers is to effectively delete that history and dishonor the sacrifices made by our military and their families.
The petitioners object to the bas-relief pediment on the Monaghan statue, as it uses degrading language toward the Samoans. Specifically, they object to the term "savage foe", which was indeed a word used by many "civilized" persons in that era. However, rather than just requesting a rewording of the plaque to remove the offensive connotation, they want the entire statue destroyed. This negates the heroic performance of duty performed by Ensign Monaghan, whereby he steadfastly stood by his friend even knowing he was doomed to die.
