The mayor said he thinks he has the authority to implement the plan without a Council vote. He said he met with Cathy MacFarlane and thought she agreed with the idea. MacFarlane said she was keeping her thoughts to herself at the meeting.

Support for family

The mayor asked Elaine Farchione, owner of Orleans Monument, to provide a price and design for a Global War on Terrorism plaque. Farchione said she at first told Wohleben she would do so, then changed her mind after Jex's parents objected, and finally decided to stick with her agreement with the mayor.

"This is a Veterans Park for servicemen that gave their lives fighting. That is exactly what the Jex soldier did," Farchione said. "To remove his plaque and put another one up adding the name of a soldier that was killed while on liberty from his ship, before a conflict started, while tragic, does not qualify him as killed in action. While I disagree with the mayor on replacing it, I will honor his wishes."

Farchione said she thinks the 2015 decision allowing the marker should stand.

"I also question why a United States veteran, a member of the VFW, does not want to allow this young man to be recognized for his ultimate sacrifice," Farchione said.