That's right. They are free to ignore it. I think they see a little bit of what they are missing, even the Christianity part and not just the watered down secular version, and are mad. Mad at themselves, at Christianity (some of them probably were Christians at one time), at everything that reminds them that, hey, maybe there really is a God afterall. And so they have to rush to erase it. Or try. Newdow is a good example, so is the woman (O'Hara?) who got prayer out of schools, though she later returned to faith, I read.
I think you're thinking of Madelaine Murry O'Hare whose son became a Christian. My recollection is that O'Hare herself was murdered, apparently by a family member I think for her money. But she is definitely dead and now is fully aware that there is a God although she will be separated from Him for eternity.