Letter to the Editor - For Immediate Release

SUBJECT: Fort McClellan Military Cemetery

How many people on the Joint Powers Authority have a family member interred at the military cemetery at Fort McClellan? How many of these people have a loved one buried in this military cemetery? How many of them have even been in the military, fought in a war or had any experience dealing with those families who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and are buried on hallowed ground?

It is my understanding that the JPA is composed of seven members, two of which are state employees. Of the remainder two are Anniston City commissioners and three are Calhoun County commissioners. Hence the JPA is not an elected body composed of persons who have family members interred at the military cemetery on Fort McClellan. In fact the commissioners would seem to have so little respect for Fort McClellan and its military history that they want to change the name of the area to just McClellan!

Clearly the JPA does not directly represent or speak for those family members who have loved ones interred in the military cemetery on Fort McClellan. Therefore any decision this body makes with regard to the disposition of said property or the surrounding area is not representative of those most effected by this matter.

I propose that the military cemetery at Fort McClellan should first be given the name Fort McClellan Military Cemetery. Then it should be expanded to include 50-100 acres of more of the surrounding scenic and natural area. The surrounding area should then be treated as a park or preserve with the central existing grave site area being reserved for interring only military soldiers or their immediate family members which is the traditional and accepted manner in which this area has been used. Additionally the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery should be declared a Historic Site and an appropriate Fort McClellan Military Cemetery historic marker placed to commemorate this area.

Under no circumstances should this property be developed for commercial purposes including interring of the general public. Plus it is paramount that the name Fort McClellan remain associated with this cemetery in order to properly honor the memory and military duty of those interred. In fact it is an outrage that JPA or anyone concerned with this matter should conspire to rename this area and forever erase its military history by removing "Fort" from the name.

I urge all family members, relatives and their friends and associates who have soldiers or loved ones interred at the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery to write their representatives in Congress about this matter. Urge them to do everything in their power to preserve the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery and the surrounding area and to enact legislation to this effect where appropriate.

ADDENDUM: I understand from correspondence with DAVID F. TREUTING, Colonel, MP Garrison Commander of Fort McClellan, received on April 8, 2000, that:

"In fact on the professional staff of the JPA, who are the professionals that work with the commission there are two former soldiers, who both faithfully served in Vietnam, one is the holder of the Silver Star for valor in combat as well as a Purple Heart while serving as a Forward Observer and the other is the holder of the Bronze Star for valor in combat and a Purple Heart wearer as well who later retired as a full colonel."

Therefore it would be reasonable to hope that the JPA would be sensitive to the views of military personnel on matters related to their interred loved ones. However, there still remains no organized representation by family members of the interred, as a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and support of the cemetery. Therefore I propose the formation of the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery Association as a not-for-profit corporation for this purpose.

I have also proposed that the cemetery be officially named the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery and that this be designated by placing iron letters over the entrance arch of the cemetery. Also I have suggested that this cemetery be made a historic site and that a marker to this effect be placed on the property which will include the name Fort McClellan Military Cemetery.

Note: I do not know specifically who the commissioners of the JPA are nor do I know the names of any of their staff. However I commend them for their good work in endeavoring to preserve the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery and using whatever influence, power or authority they may have to preserve, maintain and insure that the area is not over developed or used in any way that would not best serve those interred soldiers and their family members in the future. TAL 8 April 2000

Sincerely,
Terry Lynch, Founder and President
APA: American Patriots Association
Box 241035
6701 Winton Blont Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36124-1035
Date: 7 April 2000