Letters to the editor, June 1, 2010

New home has been arranged for Mojave Cross

Just over two weeks ago, vandals crept into the Mojave National Preserve under the cover of night with one thing on their minds: to tear down the Mojave Desert War Memorial, a national monument erected by WWI veterans honoring our nation’s service members who died in battle.

They tore it down because they do not like the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in April stating the memorial should stay.  Nor do they like the rule of law.

Not only did these vandals violate federal law (Veterans’ Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1369 [2003]), but they dishonored law-abiding Americans all over the nation, effectively slapping the faces of millions of veterans, including our clients, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), The American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and American Ex-Prisoners of War, who are fighting Frank Buono and the ACLU in court from tearing down this memorial forever.

Two days after this heinous crime was committed, an unidentified caller contacted the Desert Dispatch newsroom, claiming to know the details of the theft and offering an explanation.

In his May 11 letter, the caller stated, “Alternatively, if a place can be found that memorializes the Christian Veterans of WWI that is not on public land the Cross will promptly be forwarded with care and reverence for installation at the private site.”

If this confession is from a legitimate source, we would like the stolen national monument delivered to Joshua Springs Calvary Church (57373 Joshua Lane, Yucca Valley, CA 92284, 760-365-0769), where it will be cared for and not hidden.

Whoever is responsible for this horrible crime, know this: Your attempt to circumvent the law has failed.  Not only have your actions strengthened the resolve of hundreds of thousands of Americans to press forward to make sure that this memorial and countless others like it remain, but a reward of $125,000 is being offered for information leading to your arrest and conviction.

We encourage whoever is responsible for this disrespectful and criminal act to return the memorial and turn yourselves in before your identities are revealed to someone who has as little respect for the rule of law as you.
With a $125,000 reward offered by Liberty Institute and the VFW for information leading to a conviction, it is just a matter of time before someone comes forward.  Tips can be sent to info@libertyinstitute.org.

For more information about this case, or how to help reinstall the memorial, bring the criminals who tore it down to justice, and assist legal efforts to protect if from being torn down permanently by the ACLU, please visit www.donttearmedown.com.

Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of Liberty Institute