Santa Monica Crosses Mowed Down in Texas

By Ann K. Williams
Staff Writer

August 19 -- Late Monday night, a pickup truck dragging a length of pipe mowed down 500 of the crosses that had traveled from Santa Monica to Crawford, Texas to serve as a backdrop for Cindy Sheehan’s anti-war vigil, according to news reports.

Larry Northern of Waco swerved in and out of the crosses along an easement by the side of the road to President Bush’s ranch, destroying the crosses and 40 American flags that were part of the memorial to American casualties in Iraq familiar to Santa Monica beachgoers as “Arlington West.”

Although Sheehan said she didn’t want charges brought against Northern, he was charged with felony criminal mischief and released on $3,000 bail, according to reports by CNN.com and KWTX, a CBS affiliate serving Central Texas.

Woody Hastings, the local peace activist who drove the crosses out to Texas last week said he was “surprised and hurt” by Northern’s actions. (see related story)

“No matter what you believe, it’s wrong to destroy and desecrate crosses and the American flag,” Hastings said.

The damage to the roadside memorial is “not going to stop anything,” he said. “It’s just kind of sad. We didn’t set out to dishonor anybody.

“I understand Larry Northern is a veteran himself,” Hastings said, adding that he hoped Northern would come to understand what the protesters were trying to accomplish.. “I hope he learns to regret what he did.”

Hastings drove the crosses to Texas in support of Sheehan, who camped out down the road from the President’s ranch for nearly two weeks hoping he would meet with her and explain why her son’s death in Iraq was not in vain.

Sheehan, whose vigil has drawn large crowds and attracted national media attention, expressed sorrow but remained steadfast in her determination.

”Our hearts are broken about this,” Sheehan said in a prepared statement aired by KWTX, a CBS affiliate serving Central Texas

“We continue to work closely with local law enforcement offices and the secret service to be good neighbors,” Sheehan said.

On Thursday, Sheehan learned that her that her 74-year-old mother had had a stroke and told reporters she would be leaving immediately. (see related story)

Sheehan, however, told supporters that the protest would go on.

Wire stories contributed to this report