To a real atheist a Cross would mean nothing...

[Bullwinkle]

They just want to game the system and get some fame.





Planted atop a remote hill in the middle of California's Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base rest two 13-foot crosses.

Originally erected back in 2003 by seven marines grieving over lives lost in
the war on terror, this site originally established for reflection has now
become grounds for controversy.

"It's not a religious spot at all, it's a place for the Marines to grieve
and to grow to let go of their burdens of what they had in their soul, so
they can go back down that hill and back into battle and put their own lives
on the line," says marine widow Karen Mendoza.

Her husband Ray was one of those original seven who climbed the hill that
day, three of whom have since been killed in action, including Ray.

"It's a symbol of sacrifice regardless of what you think, pray, like or
don't like," says Karen.

Over time the site has become a bit more permanent. A wildfire destroyed the
original cross a few years back, so Marines and widows carried these two new
versions up the hill.

Now two symbols are at the end of a brutal 3,000-foot hike that begins at an
area of the base called Camp Horno and ends at the top of a ridge line that
overlooks vast openness in one direction and the glistening Pacific Ocean in
the other.

Here the crosses are blanketed in symbols of valor, sorrow and festivity.
You'll see Purple Heart medals, pictures, books, messages, mementos from
deployments around the globe and even a bottle or can of the fallen's
favorite liquor...all left in remembrance.

While those symbols are at times heartbreaking, the rocks are what overcome
your thoughts and have taken over the site. Each one has been carried and
left here by a Marine, sailor, soldier, airman, widow or child.

Some are in excess of 50 pounds. Some are inscribed. Others look as they
have just been freshly torn from the Pendleton ground. All are left as a
symbol of the burden it takes to carry one of these rocks on such a brutal
hike and the burden it takes to serve and ultimately give a life for your
country.

As he overlooks the solemn site recently, retired Marine Colonel Nick Marano
tells us, "This wasn't intended to be a religious memorial, it was just
intended to be able to provide a fitting and a dignified memorial to their
fallen comrades and frankly controversy was the very last thing on their
minds."

Marano tells me no one would complain if, for example, someone decided to
put up a Buddhist shrine, "No one would complain at all, and I bet if we
poked around, we'd probably find something like that here.I mean you can see
a very side variety of items have been used, everything from a bottle of
Jack Daniels to a Purple Heart and everything in between. I think most
Americans are very fair-minded and see this memorial, frankly, for what it
is," says the Colonel as he overlooks the site.

He continues, "These two memorials have been sitting out here largely
unknown outside of a very small group of Marines and family here at Camp
Pendleton. The view that you can even see them from is very restricted,
certainly you can't see it from the public freeway or any of the highly
trafficked public roads and even aboard Camp Pendleton it's a very narrow
viewing angle that you have of these crosses and this site."

But the area has become controversial and more known after a newspaper
report last fall detailed the location and posted a picture. In response,
several groups filed complaints with Marines arguing the site violated the
Constitutional mandate of separation of church and state, including the
Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers or MAAF. They want the
crosses moved to a church on private land and flags or some other symbol
used instead to mark the site.

"This Christian crosses need to go to a private Christian instillation and
we need to stick to things that honor everyone equally and maintain
neutrality towards government," says association president Jason Torpy.

For 10 years, the crosses have stood on the hill without complaint, but the
MAAF says if they don't come down soon, it will file a lawsuit and possibly
hold protests outside the Marine base gates. Torpey says the original
Marines, while good intentioned, overstepped their bounds by building a
shrine without approval or notice from the Corps.

"These Marines were abusing were abusing their access to the installation
when they went on to it and starting building things," says Torpy.

Back in 2003, Pastor Scott Radestki climbed the hill as part of the original
seven. He's frustrated the debate has come to this and says, "those
individuals who have poured out their life, poured out their hope, left
those rock stones in mementos at the top of the hill to honor their fallen
comrades and to get rid of the burdens and the sadness and frustration so
that they can free themselves and make clear decisions and continue to serve
in our military focused."

He continues, "I think that is an excellent place to dump it...on top of
that hill. And there's a freedom there, there's a hope there, and that's
what makes me upset, is that somebody would try to take that away."

U.S. Marine Gunnar Vincens says he's divided on whether the crosses should
be taken down. As an atheist in the Marines, he has no objections to a war
memorial on the ridge above Camp Horno, "but it is religious in nature and
commanders should not bring up marines who may not have the same Christian
religious beliefs."

MAAF and their supporters believe the crosses should be taken down because
they're located on federal land and then replaced with something more
appropriate in their view, like a flag, eagle, or globe and anchor. Colonel
Marano says Marines and others who continue to come here to reflect will be
sorry to see them go.

The Commandant of the Marines is expected to rule the cross controversy any
day.