Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway reads a poem included in his grandmother’s book, “An Album of Memories,” at the event held April 2. Photo by Robert Gay

More than two dozen people gathered in Coronado National Forest on April 2 to celebrate the removal of the shipping container border wall they had successfully organized and protested against last winter. The gathering was held at the former site of “Camp Ocelot,” the protesters’ encampment and staging ground. Attendees exchanged gifts, memories, updates and words of gratitude. 

“Our convictions, passion and determination defended the Coronado National Forest from catastrophic damage,” wrote organizer Kate Scott in a flyer promoting the event.