Mt. Soledad Cross to Stay Put after Group Buys Land

The decades' long fight over the Mount Soledad cross in San Diego has taken a new turn.

Mt. Soledad Memorial Association is a private group that maintains the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial. They just purchased the property on which it sits from the federal government for $1.4 million.

The 29-foot structure was created in 1954 to honor Americans who served in the Korean War. Its supporters hope the sale will end years of legal challenges over displaying the cross on public property.

"I am honored to be leading our association at this most significant time in our memorial's history," Bruce Bailey, president and CEO of the association's board of trustees, told The Washington Times.

"It marks the first time where our membership can manage the memorial's affairs from a place of ownership and accountability for the property, which is a new and welcomed step for the association," Bailey continued.

"We are honored to now own this property and will continue to recognize our nation's veterans with the same spirit of integrity our association has demonstrated the past 60 years."

Hiram Sasser, deputy chief counsel for the Liberty Institute, called the sale a victory for veterans.

"Today's actions will ensure that the memorial will continue to stand in honor of our veterans for decades to come," he said.