MUSCATINE, Iowa — Ken Irwin doesn’t regret the hours of work he devoted to building a symbolic sea of crosses to demonstrate his views on abortion.

But he was dismayed to learn that 50 of the 210 wooden icons were damaged or stolen sometime Sunday night while on display at the Muscatine Knights of Columbus grounds on Houser Street.

In an e-mail describing the incident, his wife Lois wrote, “Today, a heavy heart,” in the subject line.

This is the second year the couple have loaned the crosses to area churches and organizations that want to set up what they call a Cemetery of the Innocents.

Ken said the crosses represent the 200 abortions that take place every half hour in the United States. The Knights of Columbus display also served the purpose of highlighting October as national Pro-Life Awareness month.

The incident marks the first time their display has been vandalized, said Lois.

“We found out about it at the Muscatine Right to Life meeting Monday night,” she said.

The Irwins, members of Ss. Mary and Mathias Catholic Church in Musca-tine, wanted to bring a Cemetery of the Innocent to Muscatine after seeing one at a church in Davenport.

Muscatine attorney Terry Mealy donated the wood Ken used to make the crosses in his garage shop.

Ken said it takes about an hour to build each cross, which is then dipped in white paint.

He and Lois say the vandalism could be anything from a teenage prank to an act of protest.

Ken said he has heard that some people are against the Pro Life mission, but he has never met anyone who told him they opposed to his organization.

The Irwins are asking that anyone who may have found the crosses that are missing, or even the person or people who took the crosses, to return them to the Knights of Columbus grounds on Houser Street. Ken said he wouldn’t press charges against the vandal or vandals, but he does have a request.

“I would ask them to attend one of our meetings and see what’s behind the meaning of these crosses,” said Ken.

The meetings take place at 7 p.m. the third Monday of the month. The next one will be Nov. 16, at the Jesus Mission Church, 509 Mulberry Ave.

The Irwins are disappointed, but not discouraged. They will continue to loan out the crosses and intend to take the display to the Wilton Baptist Church, 203 E. Railroad St., this week.

Contact the Irwins at 563-263-3538 for information on displaying the Cemetery of the Innocent or attending a Muscatine Right to Life meeting.