Dec. 10--An atheist group's banner near a Nativity scene in Arlington Heights has been repaired, according to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Tom Cara, president of the atheist group's Chicago chapter, said the 3 1/2 by 7 foot vinyl banner that read "Are you good without God? Millions are" was back on display as of Tuesday afternoon.
A sign company in Morton Grove repaired the three grommets that were ripped out of the banner for free, Cara said. It cost another couple of bucks to repair the banner stand.
"(W)e were very pleased the vandalism involved very little out of pocket repair costs," Cara said via email.
The damage was discovered Sunday evening, when the banner was found ripped and aluminum disclaimer signs were bent at North School Park, near the annual Arlington Heights holiday lights display.
Authorities were notified and the national organization is now offering a $2,000 cash reward for information on the perpetrators.
It is the second year the atheist display was vandalized. The foundation has posted atheist messages at the park since 2012, when a Christian activist filed a complaint against the Arlington Heights Park District demanding permission to install a Nativity scene at the park near downtown.
