Mt. Soledad Cross Needs to Stay Put, Says War Veteran
by Allie Martin
May 24, 2005
(AgapePress) - San Diego residents will have a chance to vote on the future of a war memorial that is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.During a special election in late July, voters in San Diego will be asked whether a cross and property known as the Mount Soledad War Memorial should be transferred to the federal government. The 43-foot-tall cross was built in 1952 to honor veterans of the Korean War. But nearly 16 years ago, a local military veteran, who is an atheist, sued the city, claiming the cross violated the Constitution.
Rod McDougal is a local pastor who is chaplain emeritus of VFW Post 2111. He says the cross should be allowed to stay.
"This is a historical landmark of our civilization [and a testimony to] what has happened in America over the last 200 years," McDougal explains. "When our country was formed, it was primarily formed by Christian preachers and businessmen who said 'We want a country that is Christian, where people can worship freely.'"
For that reason, the veteran says the battle for the cross is an important one. "This represents a historical landmark that we have been Christian [in this nation] and that we are going to be," he maintains. "[T]here are a handful of atheists and ACLU representatives who say 'Hey, it's not in the Constitution' -- well, they're wrong. The Constitution says there shall be no law against the establishment of worship and praising and ministering unto the Lord."
Last week the San Diego City Council voted to place on the July 26 ballot a measure that will ask voters if the cross and the property on which it stands should be deeded to the U.S. government, which could then designate it as a federal monument. (See earlier story)
