Sign of conflict

California film moguls' addition to Plymouth has town's war memorial advocates up in arms

John Hedge, 59, walked in front of the Hollywood East sign installed by Plymouth Rock Studios that blocks the Korean and Vietnam War Memorial. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff)

PLYMOUTH - This town's historic district, home to Plymouth Rock, some of the oldest houses in the country, and the Mayflower II, sprouted a flashy new feature last week: a 50-foot-long "Hollywood East" sign spanning the lawn of the Plymouth County Courthouse.

Erected by a group of California film moguls who have proposed building a studio in Plymouth, the large block letters also block public view of a 20-year-old monument honoring Korean and Vietnam War veterans. To make room for the sign, Plymouth Rock Studios moved the two benches that had been set up for people to view the memorial.

The sign's unveiling last Friday sparked immediate outrage among local veterans and family members of those whose names appear on the memorial.

"My mother, who has now passed away, was so grateful when they put up the memorial," said John Hedge, whose brother, Robert, died in Vietnam in 1968 at age 22. "She lived right up the hill from here and used to wheel down the street with flowers to plant. . . . The family was devastated when we saw this."

In light of the intense opposition, the studio made a hasty decision yesterday to have the sign dismantled and carted off the courthouse lawn next Monday, three days after the annual Fourth of July parade makes its way past the courthouse and the looming letters.

"For that to be placed in front of the two war memorials is a serious affront to veterans," said Alba Thompson, vice-commander of the Plymouth Veterans Council. "This is just one more encroachment on veterans' rights and privileges."

According to Plymouth Rock Studios executive Thom Black, whose enthusiasm appeared not to have been dampened by criticism, the sign will be reconstructed on the location targeted for the film studio.

"We'll be making the announcement as to where that is this Thursday," Black said. The company has narrowed the field to a couple of locations in Plymouth, as well as at least one out of town.

The purpose of the Hollywood East sign had been to draw tourists, who generally gravitate to the waterfront, up the hill to Plymouth's downtown stores. Downtown Association member Christine Pratt, owner of The Painted Lady gift shop, was excited about the sign's arrival. "If it will be an incentive for tourists to walk up the hill from the waterfront, hallelujah," she said during last Friday's unveiling.

The Plymouth County Courthouse is overseen by three county commissioners, rather than town officials. The commissioners gave permission for the sign by a 2-to-1 vote a few days before it was unveiled, but did express some reservations.

The commissioners do not meet again until next Tuesday, but Chairman Jeffrey Welch said his office had been notified of Plymouth Rock Studios' change of plans. "If they moved the benches, we never gave them permission to do that," Welch added.

The benches were cemented into the ground. "I would hope they would move them back," Welch said.

Veterans had hoped that the letters would be gone by Friday's July Fourth celebration, but it appears they will remain when thousands of spectators come to Plymouth. Vietnam veteran Ken Medeiros hand-delivered a letter to the office of Senate President Therese Murray Monday, before learning that the letters were to come down.

"We wanted the sign removed by the Fourth of July, so people could pay their respects that day to our veterans," Medeiros said. He commented that timing of the sign's removal isn't hard to figure out. Plymouth Rock Studios made a $50,000 contribution to this year's July Fourth celebration.

Veterans Council Commander Kenneth Holmes attended the unveiling of the Hollywood East sign last Friday, in full uniform, giving the impression the Veterans Council was on board with the plan. But Thompson said the full council had never been consulted. At a special meeting Sunday, the council voted unanimously to ask that the sign be taken down.

Plymouth Rock Studios cofounder David Kirkpatrick said the studio had planned to have the veterans' monument moved down the street to Veterans' Memorial Hall, where two other veterans memorials stand. When it was learned that veterans did not want the monuments moved, Plymouth Rock agreed to take down its large sign. "We apologize for any discomfort we have caused, and we mean to set it right," Kirkpatrick said yesterday.

Holmes said Plymouth Rock representatives moved quickly when they heard they may have offended the veterans. "They moved graciously and understood the wishes of the families," Holmes said. "I think everything has worked out well for everyone involved.

Christine Legere can be reached at christinelegere@yahoo.com.