Prayer-Soldier writes "The morning broadcast of FOX and Friends on 12 May 10 reported that after the Supreme Court ruled that a cross, erected in 1934 as a memorial to veterans who died during WWI, could stay on a remote patch of land in the Mojave desert; the cross was stolen.
Hiram Sasser, Director of Litigation, Liberty Institute commented, “It's shameful that somebody would take the law into their own hands and their hate of this cross was so much that they wanted to desecrate it and inflict that kind of pain on veterans across the country.”
When asked if he believed this was a hate crime, Sasser responded, “Obviously these people hate this veterans memorial. I don't understand it, it's out in the middle of nowhere, why people are so upset that they have to tear down this 75 year old veterans memorial that has just been honoring the service of our WWI veterans who fought and died for our country.”
Joe Davis, National Spokesperson for the VFW commented that the theft had to be the work of more than one person because the memorial was 7 feet of steel and concrete. Davis related that he did not know why they did it, but it certainly was not to recycle the steel as some had speculated.
Davis related that the VFW has received a number of offers to rebuild the memorial as well as hundreds of offers of those willing to camp in the desert to protect the memorial. A $25,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of those who stole the cross. The tip line for information is 760-252-6120.
An 11 May 10 FOX News article quoted Kelly Shackelford, president of the Liberty Institute, as saying "This is an outrage, akin to desecrating people's graves," The Liberty Institute represents the caretakers of the Mojave Desert War Memorial. Shackeford continued, "It's a disgraceful attack on the selfless sacrifice of our veterans. We will not rest until this memorial is re-installed."
According to the article, the National Park Service related that the memorial was removed from Sunrise Rock sometime Sunday night (9 May 10) or before dawn on Monday (10 May 10).
According to an 11 May 10 CNN report, “The cross itself was embedded in rock held in place by concrete. Whomever removed it would have had to climb up the steep outcropping, maneuvering around rattlesnakes that hide in the crevices.”
Cited Articles and Posts
FOX News (11 May 10)
CNN (11 May 10)
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/11/mojave.cross.stolen/index.html
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