A recent decision by the Loudoun County Courthouse Grounds and Facility Task Force to eliminate displays of all kinds on the property of the Loudoun County Courthouse was overturned by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in a 7-1-1 vote. This would have banned a 50-year tradition of displaying a Nativity scene and a Menorah on the property of the courthouse. Additionally, the suggestion of the task force would ban all religious displays from the courthouse grounds.

The seven who voted for it were: Kelly Burk (D-Leesburg), Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling), Susan Klimek Buckley (D-Sugarland Run), Lori Waters (R-Broad Run), Stevens Miller (D-Dulles), Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac), and Sally R. Kurtz (D-Catoctin). The one supervisor who voted against this measure was Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge), who felt that there needed to be more study on these types of displays. Chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Scott York (I-At Large) was absent from the vote.

The more surprising part was mentioned in an article in Leesburg Today. One supervisor almost joined Burton in voting against such displays. Dulles Supervisor Stevens Miller said, “if you’re going to have free speech then you have to make sure everyone has it” and that he believes “we are going to find that this has undesirable consequences.”

For now, it appears that the celebrations of Christmas and Hanukkah will be allowed to be displayed on the grounds of the Loudoun County Courthouse, thanks to the efforts of those who signed petitions against the task force’s ruling.