The Mojave Cross

[Chazz Layne]

So... the Supreme Court finally ruled on the side of goodness and decency, ordering it to be uncovered, only to have the cross stolen by vandals.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/11/th ... ime-heist/

I have contacted the folks at Donttearmedown.com to see if there is an effort underway for replacement, and if so, where we can help. I'll post up the details when I get their response.

[unwiredadventures]

So... the Supreme Court finally ruled on the side of goodness and decency, ordering it to be uncovered, only to have the cross stolen by vandals.

Yes, please let us know.

[OLLIE]

Talk about some worthless people... There's a few things I can think of to do to whoever is responsible.

[Chazz Layne]

The story just hit FOX news (television), finally a little coverage.

[smslavin]

anyone see the letter that was sent by the responsible party?

http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/expl ... etter.html

[Chazz Layne]

Interesting...

[jgorm]

anyone see the letter that was sent by the responsible party?

http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/expl ... etter.html

Wow! That's pretty crazy. There is no reason to "justify" stealing a veterans cross.

[Chazz Layne]

Oh, and in case you didn't know... the article mentions that the cross was put there in 1998, but it fails to mention that THAT cross was put there to replace the broken wooden one. I'm kind of surprised they left that bit of information out, since an articled on the same issue on the very same site says:

In the 1970s Henry Sandoz built and raised a wooden cross to replace the original, erected by the VFW in 1934 to honor World War I veterans. After vandals destroyed the wooden cross, Sandoz raised another replacement constructed out of steel pipes in 1996. The restored cross will also be constructed out of metal pipes and Henry Sandoz will build it himself, Wanda Sandoz said.

http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/cros ... ffers.html

[smslavin]

Normally, there are 2 things that I refrain from discussing: politics and religion. However, I'd like to play devil's advocate for just a minute.

a veterans cross

Let's just say that I know nothing of the history of the cross. Let's say I was on vacation from the mid-west or east coast. I'm hiking, or driving, through and I look up and see the cross. I'd wonder what it was and why it was placed there. I'd try to get a closer look and see if there was a reason for its being. Would I have found anything? Not finding anything, I'd wonder why there was a cross and why it was allowed to be placed there. Not being a religious person, it would leave me feeling a bit weird.

Now, let's look at another cross but one not on federal land. The one at the top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla. For years, there was never any thing up there identifying its reason for existence. Growing up just down the hill from it, I always wondered why it was there but I couldn't imagine it not being there. Eventually someone told me it was a veteran's memorial. Why wasn't it signified then? A few years ago (maybe 5 maybe longer), a debate started about removing it. A similar debate to the Mojave Cross. Eventually, it was redecorated to be more in line with a memorial and surrounded by pictures of fallen service men and women.

I don't know the full history of the Mojave Cross but I like learning about the history of areas I frequent. I like the outdoors. For me, it was just part of the landscape, something I had become used to seeing. Personally, I would like to see a proper memorial take its place. Something that I can go to and understand its significance. Something that might explain the horrors of Europe during WWI. Fighting then, in those conditions, is unimaginable to me.

I have a handful of friends who are retired from the service, and some still currently active. I've photographed their weddings, their children and their funerals (a task that I did not relish). They are the most humble, honest and trustworthy folks I know. For them, they deserve better.

[raYGunn]

Not much devilry in your advocacy, sounds reasonable and sane. Random symbology in the desert is weird.