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Moments after the singing of carols had concluded at the annual lighting of the Maryville Christmas tree, resident Samuel David Duck began his own telling of the Christmas story.

The 34-year-old father of two stood to one side of the Pistol Creek Station near the library bridge, opened his Bible and began reading from the first two chapters of Matthew. A small crowd gathered as the remainder of visitors dispersed for home or to participate in a candy hunt and then on to visit with Santa. Many never even noticed or heard his presentation because of the loud music being broadcast through the park.

Duck approached master of ceremonies Walker Johnson at the conclusion of the festivities and asked for the microphone, but was denied. He then walked a few steps from the stage area, opened the Bible and began reading.

"It's very simple. I mean it's Christmas. It's about the birth of Christ," Duck said at the conclusion of his reading. "It's not about Christmas trees. It's not about Santa Claus. It's not about elves and reindeer."

Maryville Mayor Tom Taylor had made the decision not to have a biblical reading at this year's tree lighting, despite it having been part of the last 21. Taylor had said city attorney Melanie Davis concluded that such readings from the Bible at a government-sponsored event are illegal.

Duck sat through the musical performances and remained patient until the scheduled activities were concluded. He said no one, including Taylor, knew he was going to do this.

Duck said he expected to get arrested for putting on this demonstration, but felt compelled to make the story of the birth of Jesus part of the annual tree lighting anyway. He said the fact a crowd gathered around him was proof that others agreed.

The people who are against these kinds of public displays, Duck said, know fact from fiction.

"They know what is real and what is fake," he said. "They don't care about Santa Claus and all of that. They go after nativities. They go after the Bible. ... They go after the Ten Commandments. I thought I had to do something when the real part of Christmas was being taken away."