American Patriots Association
World Trade Center attack act of war
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| PHOTO: Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star |
American military installations around the country have been closing and consolidating their resources. In the process cherished memories and values are gradually being lost and eroded. Recently I had the upsetting experience of learning that my family had been forgotten with respect to my father's burial site. I read in Anniston Star reports that the letters had been sent out by the Army Corps of Engineers with regard to the disposition of the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery. Yet my mother or other family members had not been contacted with respect to this matter. (See: Cemetery proposal for fort concerns veterans by Russ Henderson and Fort authority plotting more space for cemetery by Richard Raeke both articles published in the Anniston Star.
In fact the Joint Powers Authority wants to rename Fort McClellan by changing its name to just McClellan. I believe this would dishonor all who are buried upon this hallowed ground and who did service at Fort McCellan. I urge everyone who is concerned about this matter to write their representatives Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen. Jeff Sessions and Governor Don Siegleman to maintain the name of Fort McClellan ; that this property should be incorporated as a separate and new city; that this property should be administered by elected representatives; that this property should not be over-developed by private contractors and profiteers; that the military cemetery at Fort McClellan should be expanded into a military park area of 50-100 acres; that all undeveloped property and/or appropriate land on Fort McClellan should be considered for designation as wild life sanctuary and/or preserve area and that the Joint Powers Authority should be replaced by an elected body to represent Fort McClellan as a city. TAL 6 April 2000 Addendum 14 April 2000
In the process of insuring that my father and family would not be forgotten again, that the 367 families who have loved ones interred at Fort McClellan would not be forgotten, that they and other patriotic Americans would have a collective voice, I have established the American Patriots Association.
It is my goal that the American Patriots Association will function as a not-for-profit corporation. Establishing a historical marker at the site of the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery is a first endeavor. I urge everyone who is concerned about this issue to contact me. I understand from the Alabama Historical Association that a historical highway marker will cost between $1,350.00 to $1,695.00. Anyone who wants to contribute funds to help pay for this historical marker may be assured that the funds will be properly applied toward that purchase and are urged to give their support. Also I appreciate suggestions with respect to the text to be placed upon the marker. Generally it will be designed to appropriately honor and respect those interred at the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery and Fort McClellan proper.
The American Patriots Association will also work to promote patriotism in these United States of America in general. This will include having an Internet presence and working to network with other patriotic Americans. All patriotic Americans will be encouraged to express their feelings of patriotism in their own way. This may be through display of the American flag, celebrating national holidays or participating in civic groups and organizations.
The American Patriots Association is not itself a political organization. Nor is it a religious organization. It is open to all people regardless of their political or religious beliefs and/or associations. Also the APA will not discriminate against anyone based upon their race, religion, ethnic or national origins, sexual orientation, mental or physical impairment or disability or other reasons whatsoever. However we will only foster those ideals and values which are considered the expression of patriotism as relates to being a patriotic citizen of these United States of America.
Toward this end the American Patriots Association is hereby established this 14 Day of April in the year of our Lord 2000.
Terry Lynch,
Founder and President of APA
You may help support this site by making a gift of love. All gifts or donations will be used to support the work of the American Patriots Assoication as herein stated. Make all checks payable to: APA or the American Patriots Assoication. Thank you!
This is copy of letter sent to Alabama senators and persons concerned with the issue of what to do about the cemetery at Ft. McClellan. This letter may be sited by anyone who wants to expand and preserve this cemetery to honor our soldier forefathers.
This letter urges that the area where Lt. Col. Leonard P. Lynch is interred be established as a historic site and renamed Fort McClellan Military Cemetery.
This letter urges that the name Fort McClellan be retained. The name of the area on the Joint Powers Authority Home Page has already been changed to just "McClellan." Is this an attempt to rewrite history so that a hundred years from now people will not even remember that the U.S. Army ever had a fort in the area? You be the judge.
Please read this letter and reply if you would like to establish a historical site and marker at the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery to honor our soldier fathers interred in that hallow ground and the tremendous historical significance of Fort McClellan.
On 1 August 2000 letter was sent to President Clinton asking that Fort Mc Clellan Military Cemetery be proclaimed a national monument and historic site. Please support this effort by writing to the President. You may also use the White House Online Form to write the President.. Thank you.
APA is needs your support to erect a historical marker. I hope and pray all patriotic Americas who read this letter will help in this effort! We must not let the memories of our patriotic fathers and their loved ones fade away!
This essay tells what it means to be an American patriot in the context of the founding of the American Patriots Association. You are invited to join APA today!
What do gray bats and the JPA's reuse proposal for Fort McClellan Military Cemetery have in common?
The American Patriots Assoication is an advocate of nonviolence and promotes the civil rights and liberties of all people regardless of race, religion or national origin. Many groups which refer to themselves as "patriots" are really X-patriot groups given the X-rated nature of their doctrines. Such groups often are exclusionary in nature and promote hatred, violence, criminal activity or antigovernment sentiment in the extreme. This is an insult and slander of truly patriotic groups, including the U.S. military, the U.S. government and such organizations as the American Patriots Assoication. In order to enable journalists, clergy, civil rights advocates and others to make a clear destinction, it is urged that the term X-patriot be used to designate such anti-American groups. Because the Web sites of these X-patriot groups often promote hatred, violence, criminal activity or anitgovernment activity in the extreme they are not suitable for viewing by either children or adults. It is hoped by using this designation people will be able to filter out the filth, trash, pestilence and propoganda these X-patriot groups are pandering to our children.
APA Newsletter & UpdatesClick here to keep up-to-date on the progress and growth of APA
 One Nation under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All - Support America - APA logo on front and back. All proceeds will go to supporting this site. Thank you. NEW DOMAIN: APA has purchased the domain www.support-america.org and now you can send email to our secure box at webmaster@support-america.org. Both APA and the Support America Campaign will be using this email address in the future
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Over time APA will be producing and sponsoring a series of historic site pages and links which relate to patriotism and American history. Please visit these sites and their related links and join APA to become an American patriot of the 21st Century.
APA's Gettysburg Visit Gettysburg, site of the battle which marked the turning point in the Civil War.
Fort McClellan Home Page This site has an very good review of Fort McClellan's history
Anniston Star Archives Search the Anniston Star for articles. This is a great way to keep track of what is happening with the reuse of Fort McClellan. Suggested keywords are: McClellan, JPA, defense, army, commission, pentagon, justice, mp, training, center, school, reuse, development, etc.
Joint Powers Authority Home Page This is the transition board to which the Department of Defense has given authority with respect to reuse of Fort McClellan properties. Basically the JPA board is a small group people who represent the City of Anniston, Calhoun County and the State of Alabama. It seems to enjoy meeting behind closed doors and doesn't even give all its commissioners the right to vote! I find that quite odd. What is the big secret? What, if anything, are they trying to hide? Should not commissioners who represent the people always meet in public?
The JPA also employs a small staff with salaries ranging for $25,000/yr. for the secretary to $57,000/yr. for the executive director. Their budget runs something like $988,994.00 in tax payer dollars for a 15 month period. And Gene Stedham, their chairman, says his primary goal is to bring more jobs and tax dollars to the Fort McClellan area. Hummm.... sounds to me like that means future budgets will be going up, up, up with a similar increase in salaries. Since all this money comes out of the tax payers pockets via state and federal grants, I figure the JPA is working for me and you and everyone else who pays their salary. Therefore it would be reasonable to urge them through letters and phone calls to preserve the area while still working to boost the economy. You may contact the JPA at P.O. Box 5327, Fort McClellan AL 36205. Phone: (256) 236-2011 Fax: (256) 236-2020 or via e-mail at informationservices@mcclellan-jpa.com.
Jobs are important but so are things like parks, wildlife preserves, botanical gardens and preserving the military history of the area. When the JPA changes the name of the area by taking off the word "Fort," it is like saying they want to forget the Army and all the soldiers who ever were stationed in the area. Of course that may not be entirely true. After all there are military staffers in their employee. So why would they do such a crazy thing as rename the area?
I don't pretend to read anyone's mind. However I do make this recommendation to the JPA, who are, after all, working in part for me: keep the name Fort McClellan and work to incorporate the area into a separate and new city; invite retired military people to come live and work in the area; focus on high technology type businesses and industry when planning for reuse; and for God's sake preserve the beautiful landscape and keep the Fort McClellan Military Cemetery a hallowed ground for soldiers and their immediate families only. If the JPA does all these things I'm sure they will receive a high commendation from both me and the public. Then no one will worry so much, myself included, about the bigger hole in our pockets from all those taxes following into the area.
Fort McClellan via Yahoo Links to over 4600 "Fort McClellan home pages. True, not all of these sites relate to Fort McClellan proper, but they do reveal some interesting sites.
Army Posts Link to Army Posts far and wide!
Military discussion forum This is a great place to network with respect to military issues. Jump to this site and express yourself regarding the reuse of Fort McClellan and other Army posts.
Other Army sites An alphabetical list of military bases with web sites. If you can't find it here try Other Army sites or Hot list of Army web sites.
Major Base Closure Summary This is a listing of the bases recommended and approved for closure as a result of decisions by the various Base Realignment and Closure Commissions. Take a look at this and you'll wonder if Uncle Sam has a screw loose?
Finding People and Records This is a good starting point when seeking available information from the D_Ds (Dum_Dums) in Washington.
Military Record Requests Keep this in mind when looking for old buddies. It is also a starting point for immediate family members (parents, spouse or children) seeking service records. An individual's complete service record is available to the former service member or, if deceased, to his/her next of kin (parents, spouse, or children). Limited information (such as dates of service, awards, and training) is available to anyone. Not available to the general public is information which would invade an individual's privacy; for example, medical records, Social Security number, or present address. You may also want to get a copy of Standard Form 180 to use when submitting a request for records to speed things along.
Patriotic Graphics Free patriotic graphics and music for web site construction. You are urged to visit this site and establish your own patriotic Americas web site.
Bama Links Montgomery and other Alabama Internet Resources and web site links. Branch off from here to visit other Alabama sites.
Alabama Historic Commission The Mission of the Alabama Historical Commission is to foster an awareness of the value of historic structures, sites, and objects that reflect the heritage of all Alabamians and to facilitate the preservation and documentation of these resources for the use, enjoyment and education of present and future generations.
USS Alabama Memorial Park For specifications of USS Alabama see Historical Naval Ships Assoication: USS Alabama
Ledgens of Tuskegee Who are the Legends of Tuskegee and what do they have in common? Booker Taliafero Washington, George Washington Carver and the Tuskegee Airmen all came to Tuskegee and created their own legends. Tuskegee is more than a town located in Macon County, Alabama. It is an idea and an ideal. It was a bold experiment and a site of major African-American achievements for over 100 years.
Alabama Historic Sites via Yahoo Search Yahoo for your favorite Alabama historic site
Fort Toulouse/Jackson State Historic Site
Alabama Maps The Perry-Castaņeda Library Map Collection, The University of Texas at Austin. This is a very good resource for on line maps of Alabama.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alabama Projects and GORP: Great Outdoor Recreation Places in Alabama These two sites are a good starting point for your scenic exploration or wildlife adventure in Alabama.
APA: American Patriots Association, Inc. A Not-for-profit Corporation | Lt. Col. Leonard P. Lynch Memorial | Support America | Membership | Contact
