LA JOYA – A lone cross along Highway 83 stands straight thanks to a La Joya ISD employee.

If you look past the road toward the grassy area, you might happen to see what everyone else fails to notice: a small wooden cross seemingly falling apart.

In fact, it might not even be here today if it weren’t for Juan Jose Trevino, who’s worked for the school district for 10 years.

“Porque yo apenas tengo 10 años, y en los 10 años siempre ha estado esa cruz allí,” he said.

He said the cross was already there, right next to the school sign and a tree.

“Pero estaba un arbol y el arbol se secó,” he said.

Trevino said the tree dried out. He noticed someone took special care to cut the wood and form the cross but it was still falling apart.

“Yo le puse un hilo porque ya se habia caido un pedazo de la madera que esta atravesada,” he said.

Trevino said he tied a string around the cross in an attempt to save it. But the wood is old and delicate, to the point of it rotting away.

School officials said one employee who started working at La Joya ISD 20 years ago remembers the cross at that time, but she doesn’t know the history.

No one seems to know if the person honored there is male or female, young or old.

“Dicen que es de alguien que murio allí,” Trevino said.

Trevino said he and coworkers are always careful when they mow the area.

“Le sacamos la vuelta. Le limpiamos en la orilla. No nos arrimamos con el tractor, con la weed eater le cortamos alrededor,” he said.

They avoid using the lawn mower and only use the weed eater. And while no one seems to know the identity of the person, their work is enough for this small cross memorial to stand upright.

“Pero siempre la hemos respetado a la crucita alli,” Trevino said.

Always showing respect for the little cross and honoring someone they never met.