New cross erected, then removed by park officials – A month ago, a cross in the Mojave National Preserve made national headlines when the Supreme Court ruled that it can be displayed because “the constitution does not oblige government to avoid any public acknowledgment of a religion’s role in society.”  That, and the government has decided to transfer the land where the cross is displayed (Sunrise Rock) into private hands.

Shortly after that on May 8 or 9, and much to the dismay of the nation, the cross was stolen by some greedy fools looking to bag an icon.  Then, on May 20 someone replaced it in the early morning, and park officials removed it, in concordance with a Supreme Court injunction that it not be displayed until the federal land has been transferred.

Is it really necessary, since the land is supposedly being transferred to private owners, to remove the new cross? I also wonder if this begins a trend of people placing a cross, and then someone removing it.

The cross was originally erected in the 1930s as a war memorial for the soldiers and sailors of World War 1.  It has been vandalized a few times in the past, even stolen.

Not even two weeks after the Supreme Court decision allowed the cross on federal lands, thieves have come and stolen the cross.

Law enforcement authorities think it was either for scrap metal or “people with an interest in the case,” as National Park Service spokeswoman Linda Slater said.

A $25,000 reward is offered for information leading to the apprehension of the thieves.

Late last month, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to keep the cross on federal lands, in a case that focused on the separation of church and state.

Personally, I think it has to be some nutty collector who decided to take it as a memento in light of the cross’s recent notoriety. Or perhaps a religious nut who is trying to break down the wall of church and state?

If it was a nonbeliever, I’m going to have say that was a lame move on his/her/their part, for PR reasons. Actually, for anyone who would’ve done this for a cause, it’s just a bad PR move.

Whatever the case, veteran groups are angry, and understandably so. The cross was a memorial to World War I veterans. A wooden cross was first placed at the site 75 years ago by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It was recently changed to a metal cross in the 1990’s.

This isn’t the first time the cross has been vandalized. Never the less, the VFW promises to put a new cross up.