In a very remote part of the Mojave Desert stands a seven-foot-tall cross that was erected in 1934 by a number of World War I veterans to honor the nation's war dead. There it has stood for 75 years lovingly cared for by volunteers. Only a handful of cars drive by this remote region on any given day.

In 2001, Frank Buono, a former National Park Services employee who lives in far away Oregon, joined the ACLU to file suit for removal of the memorial claiming it was "unconstitutional". The District Court sided with the ACLU in July 2002 and ruled that it must be removed.

Various courts have had adverse rulings, and while appeal goes on, the courts have ruled that the cross must be covered up with a plywood box. If the Ninth Circuit's Court decision is not reversed, the cross will be torn down, and hundreds, if not thousands of monuments built to honor our veterans around the country will be threatened.

On Thursday September 17th, our California Gubernatorial candidate Chelene Nightingale, Constitution Party National Veterans Coalition Chairman Larry Breazeale, and myself all attended the "Dont Tear Down The Cross" event at the base of the covered cross and we all had an opportunity to speak to the assembled gathering about the ludicrous lawsuit currently in litigation . We had the opportunity to be filmed by ABC, CNN and FOX. The event was attended by off duty Marines who drove all the way from Fort Polk Louisiana to attend the event. It was a somber moment as they read the names of their fallen comrades from their unit to the crowd. Our candidates and speakers were powerful and inspiring and well received by the crowd of about 125, which, considering the remoteness and distance to the event was quite a turnout for a weekday.

In my speech, given after I gave the opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, I brought out the following… "The very first line of the Bill of Rights it reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. It is self evident that the government is attempting to prohibit that "free exercise" in this very instance."

I went on further, stating that the "ACLU is twisting this simple and easily understood right into a concept of freedom from religion which was NEVER its intent."

"Have we forgotten why in our heritage that every coin and every printed bill has the words "In God We Trust" or that our pledge says "One Nation under God"? Is it by mere chance that every President has been sworn in on a Bible, or that every single session of Congress and Senate has been opened by prayer? Or that every single constitution of the 50 states refers to God in its opening statements?"

"Presidents of the United States have declared days of prayer and fasting. Franklin Roosevelt prayed for 6 minutes over the radio for the nation on D-Day in 1944."

"Should the ban on this cross continue, it symbolizes, to our shame, the denying of the guiding light of Providence that has smiled on this endeavor of freedom called the United States of America."

"Let us fight against such a day ever occurring in our great nation."

PS- When elected to US Congress CA-45 I will fight for the rights of veterans, and faithful believers for their full 1st Admendment rights of free expression.

Learn more about this issue at  http://www.donttearmedown.com

Pictures of our team members at the Cross event can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blussenheide