Lafayette hillside memorial
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The Lafayette Hillside Memorial is a collection of crosses, accompanied by a large sign, in Lafayette, California. The crosses are intended to serve as a memorial for soldiers killed in the Iraq War, with the sign containing a running total of the death count. The monument began to raise controversy in November 2006.
The hill, overlooking California State Route 24 in Contra Costa County, is owned by 81 year old Louise Clark and her husband, Johnson Clark, a WWII veteran. The monument was erected in late 2003 by Jeffrey Heaton, a long running anti-war protestor, and Clark. Their first 15 crosses were quickly removed by vandals. In November 2006 Heaton and Clark re-added the crosses onto Clark's property, this time with 300 crosses and a large sign that read: "In Memory of 2839 U.S. Troops Killed In Iraq".[1] By February 26th, 2006 the number of crosses, mixed with a few Stars of David, Islamic crescents and other religious symbols, had passed 2500 in number.[2] Crosses have been added by volunteers and some paid for by the Lamorinda Peace Group and Grandmothers for Peace.[3]
City regulations do not allow signs larger than 4 square feet, but make an exemption for memorials and historic markers. The sign, which will be updated every week with the continuing death toll for soldiers in Iraq,[4] is roughly 64 square feet.
[edit] See also
Arlington West - similar display in Santa Monica
[edit] References
- ^ Jason B. Johnson (November 20, 2006). Iraq war memorial sets tempers ablaze. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on November 26, 2006. The sign has been defaced twice. It was first knocked down by a Marine Sergeant, enraged by percieved anti-war bias. On another occasion, the sign was painted over with black tar. Both times the sign was returned to its prior condition.
- ^ {{cite web url = http://kcbs.com/pages/265336.php?contentType=4&contentId=348123 title = More Crosses Erected at Lafayette Memorial accessmonthday = February 26 accessyear = 2007 author = Doug Sovern date = February 26th, 2007 publisher = KCBS }}
- ^ Merian Kiernan (November 16, 2006). Hillside Memorial Springs Up in Lafayette, California. The Epoch Times. Retrieved on November 26, 2006.
- ^ Delfin Vigil (November 13, 2006). 300 crosses raised on hill near BART station. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on November 26, 2006.
