Christianity’s sacred symbol, the cross, means many things to many people.
But to veterans who have had their minds and spirits shattered by the horrors of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s a ‘lifeline? to help them find their way back, according to Father William Vander Heyden, chief of chaplain services at the North Chicago VA Medical Center, which has special programs for veterans with mental health issues.
‘It’s a reminder that healing is possible,? he said. ‘Life can somehow come out of all this destruction and death that they witnessed. It will be different, but it will be life.?
Thanks to the Oxford-based RLM Industries, Inc., a total of 500 stainless steel crosses, each about 1? inches tall, will soon be in the hands and around the necks of veterans in Chicago suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries.
‘It’s a privilege that we can help in such a small way, yet have such a big meaning to those fellas and young ladies,? said Rick Meachum, sales engineer with RLM Industries, which has been located at 100 Hummer Lake Rd. for the majority of its 33 years.
Not only did the Oxford foundry manufacture the crosses, they donated the first 500. It costs approximately $5 to make each one, so it amounts to a $2,500 donation.
Vander Heyden said RLM Industries? generosity is a ‘concrete example? of local communities wanting to support veterans regardless of the politics surrounding the war.
‘It proves the goodness of people for a lot of the vets who are struggling with that,? he said. ‘It’s good for them to know that people out there care about them.?
‘There’s a lot of meaning to this little cross that we weren’t even aware of,? Meachum said. ‘At first, it was just a kind gesture, but now it’s really developed into quite a nice thing.?
Dubbed ‘The Combat Cross,? Vander Heyden started handing out the special crosses when a Chicago Marine started sending them to him about 10 years ago.
‘He thought every combat vet should have one,? said Vander Heyden, who made them available to participants in his weekly spirituality group.
Originally, it was called ‘The Vietnam Cross,? but the name was changed to meet the needs of young veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
‘It’s caught on with the new generation of vets,? Vander Heyden said. ‘They’re making it their own.?
Each part of The Combat Cross symbolizes something meaningful to veterans (see below).
‘I probably give out about 250 a year,? Vander Heyden said. ‘Many of them never take it off. Many of them request one to take to a buddy who hasn’t come to the VA or is afraid to.?
Vander Heyden’s seen many of these buddies show up on the VA’s doorstep, clutch ing that little cross in their hands.
‘For some of them, it’s like a lifeline to one another, to the VA, to God and Christ,? he said.
Each cross has the power to help the veterans find that ‘part of themselves that somehow got lost or got very confused by what they saw or what they had to do on the battlefield,? according to Vander Heyden.
For a while, it looked as though the Combat Cross program might not continue after the original vendor who provided them passed away and the foreign-made replacements were severely lacking in quality.
‘I was getting doubtful that the Lord was going to bless this project,? Vander Heyden said.
Providence finally intervened when a Vietnam veteran in Chicago put the Catholic priest in touch with a foundry in Michigan.
The foundry couldn’t help because they don’t make objects that small, but the company referred Vander Heyden to Carl Marks, a now-retired sales representative at RLM Industries.
Marks and Vander Heyden started working together in October 2007.
Normally, the investment castings RLM makes for the U.S. military and heavy equipment manufacturers ? its two largest customers ? average around 15 pounds each, however, the foundry can cast parts up to 280 pounds, according to Meachum.
Investment casting is a process in which a wax cluster is covered in a ceramic slurry.
Once hardened the wax is melted out of the ceramic shell. The shell is then heated to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit and molten metal is poured in.
After cooling the ceramic shell is then vibrated and blasted off the metal products. Then the products are cut, cleaned, and prepared for shipping.
RLM Industries (www.rlmcastings.com) didn’t have the necessary tooling to make crosses that weigh only about 2 ounces each.
‘We’ve never ventured into doing anything like this before,? said Meachum, who took over the project in February.
Fortunately, Vander Heyden was able to secure $1,450 in funding from various veterans organizations to purchase the necessary equipment.
A Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient from Dayton, Ohio named Ronald Marks created, free of charge, the three dimensional model of the cross necessary to create the mold.
After that, the rest was easy.
RLM is in the process of producing the first 500 crosses and has decided to donate them. ‘That was great because I didn’t have the next $2,500 to buy the crosses,? Vander Heyden said.
Meachum, who inherited the project from Marks in February, said this probably won’t be RLM’s only contribution ‘knowing what it’s doing and how it’s helping.?
?(Vander Heyden’s) going to do some fund-raising to buy the rest, but I have a hunch we might be able to help him out with more,? he said. ‘We received a lot of positive comments from employees. They’re really happy to be a part of it.?
‘Once I found out (where they were going), I thought it was pretty cool. My grandpa was a veteran,? said RLM employee Rachael Booth, of Imlay City.
The first 500 crosses will be shipped off to KMF Metals, Inc. in Oak Creek, Wisconsin to be polished free of charge.
From there, they will be sent to the North Chicago VA where staff and veterans will apply black paint to the inset face of the cross and attach the black bootlace, which serves as the necklace.
Having ‘more hands involved in? the production of these crosses give them even ‘more meaning,? in Vander Heyden’s opinion.
‘It reconfirmed my faith that this is worthwhile,? he said.

The Combat Cross
Bootlace ? Stands for all veterans still alive
Knot ? Stands for ties we have with each other
Black ? Stands for the black granite of the wall and for the black in the POW/MIA flag
Cross’s edges ? Stands for the pain and suffering
Silver ? Stands for never forgetting those who died and those who are still alive

Blessing for Combat Cross
O God, we ask you to bless this cross, and especially your servant who will wear it. Just as the cross is a symbol of torture and death that became the symbol of forgiveness and life, so may this cross protect this veteran from all danger, temptation, and urges of PTSD just as it now leads him/her along way that are safe.
We ask this in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.