Good news: The battle over a 7-foot-high war memorial cross that wound its way from California to the Supreme Court has ended with its restoration, officials said. A settlement has been reached to return the cross to its perch atop Sunrise Rock in the Mohave Desert, The (Riverside Calif.) Press Enterprise reported. Under terms of the settlement, the National Park Service will relinquish 1 acre of land encompassing Sunrise Rock to the local post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In return, Henry and Wanda Sandoz will give 5 acres of land they own to the federal government. Interesting that the Sandoz’s had to make it a 5 to 1 deal with the federal government. That said, the Sandoz’s had made a promise to one of the veterans who had erected the cross 78 years ago and has since passed away that they’d follow through. Wanda Sanoz said, of the settlement: "We're just anxious to get it back where it belongs, where those veterans put it," she said. Of course the complaint was brought by groups who objected to a religious symbol being placed on government land. But as those who erected it said, it wasn't really about religion so much as honoring their comrades who had fallen in war. The settlement now makes the objections moot. The land upon which the cross will stand is private land. A salute to the Sanoz’s. Thanks for what you did, and thanks for enabling some old vets to continue to honor their fallen comrades. ~McQ Twitter: @McQandO
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Posted
Apr 25 2012, 11:37 PM
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