Crosses of Lafayette: Shrinking the Sign, Not the War

Here is the AP report in today's International Herald Tribune:

California war memorial sign could shrink under pact between city and organizers
The Associated Press
February 13, 2007


LAFAYETTE, California: A large sign at a war memorial that tallies the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq will be shrunk to half its size after city officials and memorial organizers reached an agreement.

The current 64-square-foot (5.76-square-meter) sign is about twice the size the city allows without a permit on residential property. It will be reduced to 32 square feet ( 2.88 square meters).

The hillside memorial, which also includes 1,600 crosses, has stirred emotional debate in this upscale suburb east of San Francisco. The sign has been vandalized twice since it was raised on Veterans Day last year.

Memorial organizer Jeff Heaton also agreed Monday to restrictions on candlelight vigils at the site. No longer will candles be left unattended beneath the crosses, which spurred fire concerns from nearby residents.

Organizers said they planned to continue erecting crosses until they have one for every U.S. soldier killed in the war.

Here is a link to Catherine Tam's article in today's Contra Costa Times.