Approximately 150 people attended a special Knoxville City Council meeting Tuesday to discuss what should be done with the Fallen Soldier Memorial at the Freedom Rock.

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, at the request a Jewish, wounded, Vietnam-era veteran from Knoxville, has asked the city to remove a silhouette, which shows a soldier kneeling before a grave marker in the shape of a cross, because it was on city property and violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

Former Mayor Craig Kelley told the council he spoke with Americans United and a deal could be worked out to keep the silhouette if the religions of other veterans in the community were represented.

Curt Froyen offered a battlefield cross as a compromise to the silhouette.

Many members of the audience wanted the cross to remain as is, with no inclusion of markers for other religions.

Members of the council said they wanted to find a way to keep the cross without entering into litigation. The council advised staff to look into further options, including privatizing the memorial.