Many
moons ago I wrote a blog about the Mount Soledad Cross. First built in 1913 and
twice thereafter, the cross served as a very visible memorial to our fallen
heroes of the Nation’s military forces. Today, thousands of plaques with names
and often faces of lost loved ones adorn the memorial.
From the
memorial is one of the best views of the San Diego valley that exists. The
mount towers over downtown La Jolla, with to die for views of the coastline as
far as the eye can see. But the height of the mount also affords 360 degree
views of the entire San Diego valley. You can’t help but be mesmerized as you
stroll around the memorial.
Here is
where I left it in my last blog – in 2011, the Ninth Circuit US Court of
Appeals found the memorial unconstitutional (because of the religious
implications of the cross on public lands) and ordered the cross removed. The
Mount Soledad Memorial Association appealed to the Supreme Court, in 2012,
refused to hear the matter, essentially confirming the order and making way for
the removal of the cross.
So, the
city of San Diego worked to convey the ownership of the land the memorial sits
on to the Federal Government. In 2014, President Obama the National Defense
Authorization Act for 2015, which included a bill authorizing the Secretary of
Defense convey the ownership of the cross to the Mount Soledad Memorial
Association. So, now that it is not public land, the US Court order no longer
has power. All the property outside the sidewalk that circles the memorial
belongs to the City of San Diego – all the property inside the circle belongs
to the Association.
See, I
told you Obama does love America!
Talk to
you soon!
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