US Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) sent a letter to Camp Pendleton’s commanding officer Colonel Nicholas Marano indicating his support for allowing the now-controversial memorial cross to remain standing in order to honor four US Marines who fell in Iraq:

Majs. Douglas Zembiec and Ramon Mendoza, and Lance Cpls. Robert Zurheide and Aaron Austin..

What makes Hunter’s call unique, besides his status as a member of Congress?

He was there. 

It was during this time that I served alongside Major Douglas Zembiec and many other Marines who gave everything they had, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice…Honoring these and other Marines with a memorial at Camp Pendleton is a fitting tribute that represents the fighting spirit of the Marine Corps and extraordinary personal sacrifice.

Rep Hunter served in the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, as did some of the fallen Marines.  Hunter was in the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, in Fallujah in 2004, when two others fell.

The Thomas More Law Center has also written a letter on behalf of Elena Zurheide, widow of one of the fallen Marines, asking Col Marano to allow the cross to stand.