The Mojave Cross

[BorregoWrangler]

Yeah I remember hearing about the controversy surrounding this a while back. I'm glad the court ruled the way it did. That's pretty low that someone would just steal it.

I'd like to play devil's advocate for just a minute.

Well said. I like your point of view on the matter.

[Chazz Layne]

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.

On that note, I would love to see the cross restored and a standard-issue historical marker embedded at ground level in the rock below (with the monument's complete history from 1934 to present).

[DennisDawg]

On that note, I would love to see the cross restored and a standard-issue historical marker embedded at ground level in the rock below (with the monument's complete history from 1934 to present).

I second that! How?

[smslavin]

On that note, I would love to see the cross restored and a standard-issue historical marker embedded at ground level in the rock below (with the monument's complete history from 1934 to present).

Sounds like a great idea. Any ideas on how you'd get something like that together?

[Chazz Layne]

IIRC, "Bill Holcomb Chapter, E. Clampus Vitus" is stamped into the bottom of nearly every plaque out there. Also, and perhaps more likely, Dennis Casebier might be interested in preserving the site and would certainly know how to go about doing it as he has done an amazing amount of work restoring and protecting the history of that area.

I am waiting a little longer to see how this pans out first, and if the cross is ultimately returned or not.

[OLLIE]

IIRC, "Bill Holcomb Chapter, E. Clampus Vitus" is stamped into the bottom of nearly every plaque out there. Also, and perhaps more likely, Dennis Casebier might be interested in preserving the site and would certainly know how to go about doing it as he has done an amazing amount of work restoring and protecting the history of that area.

I am waiting a little longer to see how this pans out first, and if the cross is ultimately returned or not.

We have the John P. Quibob Chapter of E. Clampus Vitus down here in San Diego. One of my ME's is a member and I asked him about this and he actually mentioned the Holcomb chapter. They do a lot of great memorials.

[DennisDawg]

A new cross was put up this week, by "unkown" people at night, and then taken back down by the government: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 7703.story