| The longtime cross |
It had stood there since 1934 as a promise to a WWI veteran.
In 1994, the area became part of the Mojave Desert Preserve, and then trouble started in 2001.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed in court against the cross, saying that it's placement in a national park violated separation of church and state.
Several court battles took place over the cross, during which the cross was kept covered up, until in 2003 Congress ordered a land swap.
Under the land swap, Sunrise Rock, and the surrounding acre of land would be traded for five acres of land on the edge of the park.
Ownership of the Rock and it's acre would then be transferred to veteran's organizations in Barstow.
That however wasn't acceptable to the ACLU, and eventually the case made it all the way to the Supreme Court, who in April of 2010 backed Congress's decision and ordered the cross to be kept where it stood.
But to make matters worse, within weeks of the win, and it's uncovering, the cross was stolen.
Earlier this month, the cross was found in the San Fransisco area, and was to be returned.
However, the veterans have decided that they would create an all new cross.
On this Veteran's Day they dedicated it in a special ceremony.
The US Park Service plans to put a fence, with entrances and signs, around the acre, and a plaque will be placed to note that the cross is a veteran's memorial.
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