Contact: Dr. Gary Cass, Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, 954-551-9770; Woody Woodrum, Eagle Forum San Diego (USN-Ret), 858-227-4290

SAN DIEGO, May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Preparing to celebrate Memorial Day, we do so knowing brave veterans and our shared faith have been maliciously attacked, first by thieves and now by our own Federal Government.

The recent theft and desecration of the Mohave Cross, serving as a WWI veterans war memorial since 1934, was more than a symbol of gratitude to our fallen heroes. It's a symbol of the overwhelming majority of our WWI veterans' faith.

After a long and contentious legal battle, the US Supreme Court ruled the Mohave Cross should remain on Sunrise Rock in the Mojave National Preserve. Yet, in order to circumvent a decision they disagreed with, despicable cowards violated the Court's decision and the rule of law. These lawless acts of violence against the faith community, further demonstrated by last week's desecration of the Maywood, CA Catholic Church, have got to cease.

Now, adding insult to injury, the Federal Government won't approve a permit to build another cross exactly like the one that was stolen. This political correctness run amuck has exposed again an ugly, anti-Christian bigotry and intolerance towards veterans by this administration. We call on the US Congress to investigate why the Park Service refuses to allow the cross to be replaced.

The irony is painfully obvious. Generations of Christians and patriots made the ultimate sacrifice giving us a land of freedom and religious tolerance. But now criminals and the government are conspiring to deprive them the honor they are due. This makes Christian Americans into second class citizens in the very country for which our Christian forefathers bled and died.

Americans are tolerant of other people's faith and symbols of their religion. We're asking that Christian Americans are afforded the same respect and tolerance extended to other religions.

This Memorial Day 2010, remember our veterans who laid down their lives for us - from the Revolutionary War of 1776 to Afghanistan and Iraq. In loving memory of these courageous men and women, we urge Congress and this Administration to work with Christian Americans to restore the cross at Mojave National Preserve. Respect our veterans, their faith and our country's heroes. GOD bless our veterans and the USA.