In the Mojave desert here in California, World War One veterans erected a memorial to honor their fallen brothers. In 1934, they built a simple cross, made of tubular iron, and placed it atop a small rock outcropping. There the cross has stood for many decades. I personally have passed this cross hundreds of times as I traveled into the Mojave desert.
This cross has been in the news over the past few years, as it stands on federal land. As such, the ACLU has seen fit to sue the federal government, requesting the cross be removed for violating the constitution.
Initially, an effort was made by the local
VFW to purchase the land. Actually, the
VFW traded 5 acres of property elsewhere in the Mojave desert, for the 1 acre of land that the cross stands on. Unfortunately, the ACLU was not satisfied, and continued to press the issue in federal courts.
Currently, the cross still stands, but it has been covered with a plywood encasement. It will remain that way until the case is settled in court. Covered in plywood, the cross is an abomination, and a slap in the face to those who died in the service of our great nation.
I am not a religious man. I do not attend church, and I have never read the bible (I tried once, but I found it to be a very dry read). The bottom line on my dog tags reads "NO PREF REC", meaning no religious preference recorded. I have never been offended by the Mojave Cross, in fact, the cross has only caused me to pause, and remember the veterans of a war long ago.
I guess what I am saying is if you hear of some crazy guy chaining himself to the cross to prevent it being torn down, well, it's probably me. It seems that so many people do not understand that their freedom of religion only exists because so many brave men and women have paid for it in blood. I, personally, will do whatever I can to protect and preserve the memory of those who have fallen in the service of our great nation. Especially at this simple memorial that I have seen all of my life.
The initial complaint about the cross was brought by a man who lives in Oregon. He said that he "may pass through that area, and may be offended by the sight of this cross".
