The Pay It Forward Bank of Lafayette (Patelco Credit Union) in conjunction with the founders of The Crosses of Lafayette are soliciting $7,000,0000.00 in small and large donations to heal the trauma caused by the violence of war.
“I would like to remove all of the old crosses and replace them with brand new crosses that will reflect the original scrappy grassroots character of the Crosses Memor
ial. I would also like to plant a quarter acre of flowering sweet potatoes in hopes that all the fallen soldiers will one day return home.”
Crosses founder Jeff Heaton.
“I would like to see a sculptured peace monument installed on the Crosses property”. Crosses visionary founder Louise Clark.
“The veterans of these 2 wars are not typically well off financially, most went to war as a job when there were no other jobs. .. Multi-unit housing for veterans is more realistic given the cash-flow constraints that I understand are paramount with this generation of veterans”
Crosses founder and property owner Charles Clark.
“I love the idea of a permanent memorial on the hillside- something beautiful and artistic, with many photographs and a California native garden landscape…perhaps stories along a path for people to visit.. Crosses founder Mary Alice O’Connor.
“I envision an academic center for the study of peace and conflict mediation. It could house artists in residence, focused on creating works which communicate the importance of bridging differences, and building peace and reconciliation. This could also have space for a vets counseling center as well as a memorial to the Clarks and gallery of pictures of the Crosses. …I like the idea of lobbying for housing for vets…..in Lafayette.” Crosses founder Janet Thomas.
“I personally believe a downsized version of the Vietnam Monument should go in the center of that hill. With a half circle walk around from below to the front of it and then below…..I also believe each of these young men and women deserve to have a book published about them. Maybe one to two paragraphs about each of them with a picture.”
Crosses volunteer Gregg Payton
“My feelings are to keep the crosses up as long as we can. The millions of seriously injured soldiers and civilians and all the families that have born the brunt of suffering for these illegal unjust "war crime" wars have had their lives, their suffering has not gone away!”
Crosses founder Michael Kerr. I love the idea of turning the site into one that helps the veterans one way or the other. Housing, medical (physical and mental) services, rehabilitation, job training, education, etc. I am going to be volunteering at the 2014 Stand Down weekend later this year and the services that our vets need in terms of those areas already mentioned are numerous and also include drug and alcohol treatment and counseling, legal advice, benefits advice, etc., etc. Wouldn't it be appropriate to turn the site into one that benefited our veterans directly.”
Crosses volunteer Mike King.
”I was thinking it would be cool to have something at that spot that is visible on Google Earth. I started to put a giant peace circle garden bed in my back yard but haven't completed it yet. It could be planted with plants that need no care except minimal trimming to keep them in the right shape and visible from the BART station as well.”
Crosses volunteer Margli Auclair.
“HI Friends, The US will be keeping "advisors" and army personnel in both Afghanistan and Iraq. My vote is to keep the crosses going as a visible sign of the cost of our wars......" Crosses founder Lynn MacMichael.
“I have this idea: perhaps there is an opportunity for a permanent installation….. at the Bart station entry through the family of the soldier with the existing memorial? I asked Binh Danh if he has an art practice beyond photography: perhaps there is an opportunity for him to create a sculpture of multiple crosses with a reflective gray surface similar to his daguerreotypes of the Crosses….I know a sculpture professor who is on the Public Art Committee. Perhaps a collaboration with Binh.”
Crosses volunteer Carol Reif.
“These wars are killing America, and the Crosses are needed to remind people of that.”
Crosses poet Fred Norman.
“I regret the need for future memorials, but I do expect them to be needed,,,,, Take down a few (of the old crosses), or a few 100s, by hand - maybe for planting elsewhere -…..”
Crosses volunteer Carl Anderson.
“60% of all men and 50% of all women will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime, nearly 10% of those men and 20% of those women will develop the symptoms of PTS, (post-traumatic stress)….. We chose to use the Crosses of Lafayette as our backdrop to launch…..Operation Wounded Minds……because the crosses on this hillside inspired me to actually do something and take a risk...”
Crosses volunteer Dwyne Jones.
“…..the outdoors has led me to seek funding for an International Youth Peace Camp.”
Crosses founder Bob Hanson.
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Jeff Heaton
