Crosses of Lafayette: 740 Crosses Now in Memorial

The Crosses of Lafayette memorial started with 400 crosses put up over Veterans Day Weeekend. Now there are 740 crosses as reported in today's Contra Costa Times.

Posted on Mon, Dec. 18, 2006
Hillside cross display expands in Lafayette

Volunteers have added 133 new crosses to the controversial hillside memorial, bringing the total to 780.

The memorial started with 400 crosses on Veterans Day.

The display, one of many around the nation addressing the toll of the Iraq War, has spurred communityide debate over what is an appropriate memorial to fallen troops and whether privately owned hillsides should be a canvas for someone's political views.

"It really affects you when you dig one of these things. It's sad when you know you're representing a life," Wachs said.

A sign on the hillside across from the BART station, right, says "In memory of 2,937 U.S. troops killed in Iraq."

Lafayette officials have focused on whether the size of the sign adheres to the law.

The 8-by-16-foot sign is about 30 times the size of what's allowed.

City officials will report back to the City Council on the matter at a yet-to-be-determined date.