LAFAYETTE -- An artist who built a controversial Lafayette hillside memorial to the soldiers killed in Iraq removed a pair signs Tuesday that were critical of President Bush and placed there by an anti-war protestor.

Jeff Heaton said the memorial was not built as a political statement. The signs were placed in the memorial under the cover of darkness overnight.

"It's upsetting to find someone who doesn't understand what the memorial is all about and felt the need to violate this space," Heaton told KTVU.

The artist said the purpose of the display of plain white crosses on a hillside above a BART station was give people a place to grieve.

"I think it is important that this hillside remain a sanctuary where people can come to express their grief," he said. "The whole point of the memorial is to elicit emotion."

Volunteers added 120 crosses over the weekend to the 300 already planted on private land across from the busy commuter train station. A large sign reads, "In Memory of 2,839 U.S. Troops Killed In Iraq."

An angry motorist who described herself as a former Marine got out of her car last week and knocked down the sign. Memorial builders put the sign back up, but city officials told them to remove it because it violated zoning laws.

"It has put some people on edge, particularly those who have sons or other loved ones in the military," said City Councilman Don Tatzin.

The council plans to hold a hearing on the sign next week.

Louise Clark, owner of the property, said she believes the sign should stay but will take it down if further appeals to city officials fail.