Armed Forces Park is special place

I would like to comment on the plan of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, to display an Army tank on property with the Armed Forces Memorial Park. With all due respect to the Chamber Executive Director John Courtis, Mayor Nicholls, Deputy Mayor Knight, Col. Poppenberger and all who support this plan, I would have to agree with Ken Rosevear that the placement of military equipment would take away from the original objective of the park itself: to honor us, the veterans of the Armed Forces, living or deceased.

Like Mr. Rosevear I remember the early years after the fire. There was a lot of excitement in the air. When I first met Art Nottingham, the talk was all about the park. There were struggles with transients, vandalism, and the wave of doubters who thought the area was not suitable for a park to honor our heroes. It was a bad part of town.

I helped families on the East side of the pass from Roll, Tacna, and Wellton purchase plaques for their loved ones. I remember the struggle we had getting the local businesses to throw their support toward the project.

Today, 2018, the park is a great success story. As the saying goes, “there’s a time and place for everything.”

As was reported, there is a very good chance that the railroad may be inclined to unload the property adjacent to the park. I understand there is talk of expanding the park itself, adding maybe a few buildings for a Veterans Museum, a hall of fame or something in that line to further honor our Veterans. There certainly would be space for an area to display the helicopters, tanks or airplanes.

The park is hallowed ground so to speak. It was meant to honor the heroes of our families. This veteran, like thousands of others, has a plaque on the wall. I say, more wall space, more plaques. Let’s wait for the railroad to make the next move. FRED RICHARD Wellton