(Sept 6, 2004) A Kettering, Ohio, pro-life group's application for a float in the 2004 Kettering Holiday at Home Labor Day Parade was turned down, primarily because of a number of complaints received by parade officials concerning images of a preborn baby on the group's float in last year's parade.
That float, designed for the parade theme "Great Moments in Time," was based on two "great moments in time": first, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the second, the moment of creation of each individual life. Constructed on a 25-foot-long trailer, the float's dominant feature was a 12 foot long facsimile parchment scroll of the Declaration being signed by a large hand with a feather plume pen.
On either side of the float were 4x5 foot pictures of 8-week old, developing preborn babies, similar to those that have appeared on the cover of popular magazine or in public television programs. The lettering, running the 25 foot length along the side of the float, tied in the two great moments in time: "Created with the Unalienable Right to Life".
The description provided to the parade officials in June of 2003 and which was designed to be read at the reviewing stand on Labor Day as the float passed by stated:
"Participating in its second Holiday at Home parade, the Respect Life Alliance has combined two Great Moments in Time:
"However," she added, "we were surprised that beautiful images of pre-born babies could offend people and generate complaints. We continue to believe that these images are well within community standards and that our float, celebrating life and liberty in an engaging, entertaining manner, fit in with the festive atmosphere of the Holiday at Home Labor Day celebration."