Historic Cross Stolen from famous War Memorial.

[Danno 1,228]

Thieves Steal Mojave Desert Memorial Cross in Nighttime Heist

The 7-foot-tall metal cross in a 75-year-old war memorial that withstood the heat of the Mojave Desert and a blazing battle in the Supreme Court over its legality was ripped down and stolen Sunday night, according to federal officials.

"This is an outrage, akin to desecrating people's graves," said Kelly Shackelford, president of the Liberty Institute, which represents the caretakers of the Mojave Desert War Memorial. "It's a disgraceful attack on the selfless sacrifice of our veterans. We will not rest until this memorial is re-installed."

The National Park Service says someone cut the metal bolts holding the metal-pipe cross to the top of the memorial's Sunrise Rock and made off with it Sunday night or before dawn on Monday.

Authorities had no immediate motive for the theft but National Park Service officials are considering a range of ideas from scrap metal scavengers to people "with an interest in the case," said Park Service spokeswoman Linda Slater.

Veterans groups were outraged by the theft.

"The American Legion expects whoever is responsible for this vile act to be brought to justice," said Clarence Hill, the group's national commander. "While the memorial has been attacked, the fight will continue to ensure that veterans memorials will remain sacrosanct."

The Veterans of Foreign Wars first placed a cross on the rock in 1934 to honor troops who died in World War I. The cross that stood at the memorial until this week was erected at a later date.

"To think anyone can rationalize the desecration of a war memorial is sickening, and for them to believe they won't be apprehended is very naïve," said VFW National Commander Thomas J. Tradewell Sr.

The cross has been covered with a tarp or a wooden box since 2002 by a court order to avoid violating federal law mandating the separation of church and state. The 75-year-old monument was the target of a longstanding legal challenge from the ACLU, which charged that the cross is a religious symbol that shouldn't be allowed on public land. The U.S. Supreme Court last month refused to order that it be torn down in a 5-4 decision.

But the Supreme Court also referred the case back to a lower court for further review, forcing the caretakers to continue covering the cross with a pine box. Maintenance workers noticed on Saturday that the box had been removed, and were preparing to restore it Monday morning when they found that the entire cross was missing.

Park officials said the box has been removed "several times" in the past and covered with graffiti at least once -- but that no one had ever before attempted to physically remove the cross itself.

The Liberty Institute is now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction in the case, and the National Park Service has established a tip hotline seeking information leading to the recovery of the cross. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Park Service at (760) 252-6120.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/11/thieves-steal-mojave-desert-memorial-cross-nighttime-heist/

[Peikko 1,575]

That is totally messed up. Why would anyone do something like that?

[JohnSmith2007 353]

That is totally messed up. Why would anyone do something like that?

I will give you a hint.

The 75-year-old monument was the target of a longstanding legal challenge from the ACLU, which charged that the cross is a religious symbol that shouldn't be allowed on public land.

[Peikko 1,575]

I will give you a hint.

I'll give you a hint, not everyone who does not want to see religious symbolism plastered all over the place would take matters into their own hands and simply remove it. That particular action takes a particular type of stupidity - so let's not pretend that everyone is the same even while having certain opinions on what is and isn't appropriate on public land.

It may well be some opportunist who wanted the publicity for some other reason so thanks for your hint, but you can keep it.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I'll give you a hint, not everyone who does not want to see religious symbolism plastered all over the place would take matters into their own hands and simply remove it. That particular action takes a particular type of stupidity - so let's not pretend that everyone is the same even while having certain opinions on what is and isn't appropriate on public land.

It may well be some opportunist who wanted the publicity for some other reason so thanks for your hint, but you can keep it.

Not everyone of them but at least one of them did.

[Craneman 2]

I'll give you a hint.

It was not a veteran, but then that would be profiling.

a-one and a two, Yada Yada Yada Yada

I'll give you a hint, not everyone who does not want to see religious symbolism plastered all over the place would take matters into their own hands and simply remove it. That particular action takes a particular type of stupidity - so let's not pretend that everyone is the same even while having certain opinions on what is and isn't appropriate on public land.

It may well be some opportunist who wanted the publicity for some other reason so thanks for your hint, but you can keep it.

[Peikko 1,575]

Not everyone of them but at least one of them did.

How helpful - if indeed it wasn't someone taking advantage of the 'no publicity is bad publicity' adage. However, having said that, so what? It's a really shameful thing for someone to do. Who is going to say anything different? I'm certainly not. I don't support or advocate taking this type of action, even less simply because you find something offensive. Whoever did it is an idiot.

[Danno 1,228]

How helpful - if indeed it wasn't someone taking advantage of the 'no publicity is bad publicity' adage. However, having said that, so what? It's a really shameful thing for someone to do. Who is going to say anything different? I'm certainly not. I don't support or advocate taking this type of action, even less simply because you find something offensive. Whoever did it is an idiot.

No one suspect you had anything to do with it MC but as we have heard lately, there must be someone on the left whose choice of free speech has "created a climate to make this possible".

So which talking heads on the Left can be blamed?

[Peikko 1,575]

No one suspect you had anything to do with it MC but as we have heard lately, there must be someone on the left whose choice of free speech has "created a climate to make this possible".

So which talking heads on the Left can be blamed?

What are you talking about 'climate to make this possible'? The person who did it is responsible not some idiot politician and I have no idea why they chose now, as apposed to some other time, but to try to blame a talking head, on any end of the political spectrum is nuts, even for you.

[alienlovechild 75]

So which talking heads on the Left can be blamed?

I blame the talking head on the right for posting the same story I did.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/255927-mojave-cross-at-center-of-court-fight-reported-stolen/

[Nagishkaw 510]

If they needed that cross, then maybe they should just keep it.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

probably some angered member of the ACLU about the fact they lost.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

There were were at least 6 of them, maybe 12....

All of the clan Budwiser...

[Peikko 1,575]

There were were at least 6 of them, maybe 12....

All of the clan Budwiser...

That I can believe.

[Danno 1,228]

I blame the talking head on the right for posting the same story I did.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/255927-mojave-cross-at-center-of-court-fight-reported-stolen/

I looked,,,, apparently not good enough.