Fallen Marine's cross headed to Texas

The father of a San Antonio Marine killed in Afghanistan said he'll place a cross honoring his son on his ranch, bypassing a controversy over religious symbols on government property.

Dr. David Schmidt said the cross could arrive from California next week, in plenty of time to plant it at his Hill Country ranch before the anniversary of his son's death.

Lance Cpl. Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt was killed by ?friendly fire? during a battle on Oct. 6, 2011.

Schmidt's family attended a memorial service in April at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he had trained. They planned to join his platoon for placement of a 10-foot-tall wooden cross on a mountain there.

But the base canceled the event. The camp had initiated a moratorium on placement of religious symbols after an atheist group complained last year about a 13-foot cross on another large hill that pays tribute to other fallen Marines.

David Schmidt said Christian, non-Christian and secular memorials should be allowed at the base. But he said his ranch was the ?second-best place? for the white cross the Marines built.

?Benjamin's buddies have said, ?Let's bring it to San Antonio. Let's bring it home,'? Schmidt said. ?It's not the ideal situation. But it's not right for it to be sitting in someone's garage.?

The cross will be placed on a small hill, within view of the house at the ranch in southern Gillespie County.

Franchisees of the UPS Store in San Antonio and San Diego, Calif., offered to waive crating and shipping costs, in support of the family and the Marines, said Larry Rogoff, area franchisee for the greater San Antonio area.

?Crating alone would be several hundred dollars,? he said.

Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, a Washington group that lodged the grievance at Camp Pendleton, said he's glad a cross will be raised for Schmidt on the ranch.

?For the dad, I support, 100 percent, his right to put it on private land. I've lost people myself. I understand the feeling,? said Torpy, an Iraq veteran.

But he said the 13-foot cross remains up at Camp Pendleton, adding to an overtly religious environment at the base.

?That's not a message the military leadership should send,? Torpy said.

Schmidt's death and the emotions it stirred among the Marines were detailed in the Wall Street Journal, which had a reporter embedded in his battalion.

A tank commander was charged and later acquitted in the death. Schmidt's parents, who are divorced, have said they have forgiven the commander, who has apologized to the family.

Schmidt's mother, Becky Whetstone, a former San Antonio Express-News features columnist who now lives in Little Rock, Ark., said she's glad the cross is coming to Texas.

?Since the government won't allow it to be erected on its land as his (Marine Corps) brothers originally wanted, I can't think of a better place for it to stand. Benjamin would love it,? she said.

David Schmidt, the San Antonio Spurs' team doctor, said he has forged friendships with Marines in his son's unit.

?Having the cross here will be a reason for them to come out to the ranch,? he said.

shuddleston@express-news.net

Source: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/military/article/Fallen-Marine-s-cross-headed-to-Texas-3867087.php

richard cordray shannon de lima joe torre west virginia university michele bachmann jessica biel tim howard