On Wednesday, September 28th, in the early morning hours under the cover of darkness, the 721 pro-life memorial crosses with its 27 American flags were knocked down at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church in Hollywood along Route 235. A few crosses were broken.
Although 24 churches (both protestant and catholic) have participated in this non-violent memorial during the past two years, only two other churches have experienced such widespread vandalism such as this: Immaculate Heart of Mary in November 2004, and the Patuxent Assembly of God in April 2004. The police have been notified, and an investigation is ongoing.
Members of St. Mary’s County Right to Life were quick to respond and were able to reinstall the memorial in the afternoon, ensuring that this peaceful memorial might continue until the planned transfer to another church on the 15th of October.