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Troop Tribute Signs Go Back Up In Massachusetts

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Dec 12, 2007 1:01 pm US/Eastern

Troop Tribute Signs Go Back Up In Massachusetts

METHUEN (WBZ) ―

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First they went up, and then they came down. Then they went up again, the came down again. Now its round three for the patriotic signs, and there place along Massachusetts' highways.

Wednesday local veterans were busy helping restore the signs along Route 213 in Methuen that were placed there in memory of a missing local soldier.

Army Specialist, Alex Jimenez was kidnapped in an ambush in Iraq this past May and has been missing ever since. After he went missing, flags and banners went up on that overpass and many others like it to remember Alex.

Alex's father, Andy Jimenez says the displays give him hope and he considers them a "Welcome Home" for troops because he still has hope his son will return.

Earlier this month they were taken down when the Mass. Highway Department banned the tributes, saying the displays were a possible hazard to motorists. Officials were worried the displays might come undone and fall onto the traffic below, possibly causing an accident. Many Vets and volunteers took down their displays before the state had a chance to do so.

After a public outcry, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick stepped in, and told the state's Director of Veteran's Services and the Highway Commissioner to come up with a new plan.

In the meantime, the displays are being allowed to remain up until a task force can figure out a way to safely and appropriately recognize troops along highways and other state-owned property.

This isn't the first time that the state has decided to remove the displays, and then changed their mind.

In October of 2006, Mass Highway announced a similar ban. However, in the face of mounting public criticism they relented and said, "Displays safely on the inside of overpass fencing would not be touched."

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