Rehberg heads to Whitefish for Jesus statue

Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg will attend a public rally in Whitefish on Nov. 10 in support of the statue of Jesus Christ on Big Mountain. Rehberg will be at the VFW Post 276 on Baker Avenue at 1 p.m.

The statue, which sits near the top of Chair 2, is on land leased from the Forest Service since 1953. The Knights of Columbus say they put it up as a World War II memorial.

In August, the Forest Service said the statue might have to be moved because of religious issues. The Forest Service withdrew its decision last month and said it would take public comment on the issue.

"The Veterans Jesus Memorial has united Democrats and Republicans, Christians, Jews and Atheists, even skiers and snowboarders in support of this important piece of the local culture," Rehberg said. "That's because it stands for so much. It's not just a statue of Jesus, but a memorial of appreciation for the veterans who fought to make this country free. It's a meeting place in the middle of a day of skiing and a place for quiet contemplation overlooking the valley below. And on Thursday, it's going to be a rallying point for the Whitefish community."

Rehberg last week launched a Web site to help with public response to the pending Forest Service decision. The site is www.veteransjesus.com.