We, like a 25-year military veteran who had the best intentions when a war memorial monument was moved from Youngstown city-owned property without permission, are dismayed that there now is talk about legal action due to the relocation.

Certainly, no harm has been done; only good intentions existed, and cooler heads must prevail with logical conversation in efforts to resolve this issue.

The fracas all began more than a year ago when U.S. Marine veteran Brian Kennedy, president of Kennedy Trucking and a member of the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, endeavored to move what he described as an “abandoned war monument” from an “abandoned” city park to property he had purchased specifically for the monument. He hoped to have it cleaned up and be given a more appropriate and respectable home for public viewing.

Kennedy even proposed setting up a nonprofit organization to be in charge of the monument, built in 1961 by the South Side Citizens Committee.

Discussions were ongoing with city officials over relocating the monument only about 165 feet from the rarely used South Side Park, off South Avenue, to property he owns at 1447 South Ave. so it can be more visible.

Apparently, however, a monument company Kennedy was working with on the project, OT Beight and Sons, mistakenly moved the monument before talks with the city were finalized. That triggered a recent statement by a deputy law director that the Youngstown law department is considering taking civil action, and “it could also be a criminal matter.”

That deputy law director and Law Director Jeff Limbian are even in discussions with city prosecutors and city officials about prosecution, it has been reported.

We, like some members of city council and Kennedy, were surprised and taken aback by that possibility.

Indeed, the monument should not have been moved without permission.

But, let’s face it, if Kennedy or the monument company had meant any ill will, would they have had the monument moved to a nearby prime location along a busy roadway for better visibility by the public?

Limbian has described the situation as “a mess.”

Indeed it is. But let’s not blow things out of proportion. We highly doubt the monument is going anywhere else anytime soon.

We propose that the city and Kennedy continue the talks that already had been underway on things like what is the most appropriate location for public accessibility and respect? Should it be located on private property? And who will oversee and maintain it? Once the details, including a location, are settled by all parties, then the veteran monument should be moved again to that location. Or, if it’s decided it should stay on the the location where it is now situated, then leave it alone. No harm, no foul.

It’s time for cooler heads to prevail. We suspect discussions that do not involve threats of civil action or criminal charges will work wonders.

The situation definitely brings new meaning to the adage that no good deed goes unpunished. In this case, we urge that this intended good deed does go unpunished.

editorial@tribtoday.com