Believe you me, this is way up there in the area the Basque shepherds are/were. Once a Lt. missed his ride to the field, called a cab and I took him all the way up there which was kinda tricky, but I was used to driving on our farms, so no big deal. It was beautiful with the sheep/shepherds in the fog. There are also Buffalo on Camp Pendleton and one time I came around a curve, had to stop, and honk to get them off the road.:)
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Planted atop a remote hill in the middle of California's Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base rests 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.
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The intent of the founders was freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. The atheist group wants the freedom to hold their views unmolested, but don't want others with opposing views to have the same freedoms. And finally, if the Marine Corps didn't approve this, and it was done by individuals acting alone, then HOW can anyone realistically say that government has violated the 1st amendment? Government has done nothing here (a rare thing for GOOBERMENT these days)!
ReplyDeleteIn general it is another example of how Christians are being told we can’t practice our religion.
ReplyDeleteThis country settled by people looking to escape religious censorship and persecution and have the freedom to worship. The men and women who fight for that freedom are being told that they can’t use that freedom.
The intent of separation of church and state in the words of sever of the forefathers is to keep the state from mandating religion. Yet that is what is happening when Christians are constantly being told that they cannot practice their religion. The founders of this country are the ones who brought the phrase “In God we trust” to be on our currency and in many of our government buildings. As a matter of fact ALL government proceedings started with a prayer when this country was established.
Momaapple
Sad, sad sad.
ReplyDelete