FOUNDATION VOICE (Mike Farrell) – Re: Dispute spotlights fallen Marines (LA Times letter to the editor)

To the Editor

(Dispute spotlights fallen Marines, LA Times 1/3/12)

Your encomium to the four Marine heroes misses the point and misrepresents the issue by implying that removing a cross from government ground dishonors the memory of courageous, dedicated, patriotic warriors. Nothing could be further from the truth. These men deserve all the honors their friends, family and fellow Marines choose to bestow, but Marines of other faiths or no faith at all serve at Camp Pendleton. Heroes who share other beliefs, or none at all, have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan. A religious symbol looming over their heads, on their base, no matter how well intended, is inappropriate. The idea that crosses carry no religious meaning if “only” seen from Camp Pendleton is ridiculous, not to mention demeaning to the beliefs of other Marines.

Honor the fallen heroes by mounting their pictures or their names. Better yet, honor them with the globe, eagle and anchor of the Marine Corps.

Mike Farrell

Mike Farrell is a member of the MRFF Advisory Board. He is an accomplished actor, best known for his role as B.J. Hunnicutt on M*A*S*H. He is a dedicated human rights activist and Chair of the Board of Death Penalty Focus, Good Will Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Co-Chair Emeritus of the California Commitee of Human Rights Watch.