I don't wish to get political at all other than to mention the new administration in Washington promised more transparency. OK. Let's take them at their word and make sure that EVERYONE is made accountable and is disclosing what they are up to.
So perhaps now is the time to start asking the tough questions. We've got the Peace Light fiasco and now the above story. Trying to keep cameras away only makes them look like they are hiding or covering up something. Given that nothing was found out of the ordinary, what could that possibly be?
I'm unfortunately not a rabble rouser so this thread and perhaps a few emails may be the extent of my involvement. Although perhaps getting the word out in a public forum like this will set off a chain of events.
Perception can be reality. John Latschar already has a shaky reputation at best and he's done nothing I can see to alter that perception. Seems to me he needs a crash course in P.R. I understand that you have to be "tough" to get some things done, but there are times you need to shut down that tough exterior and be a little more understanding to those who question his motives and tactics. He strikes me as one who is very defensive and can't even stand an honest question or two. I think he takes those questions as some kind of offense against him. Perhaps he's just used to being questioned by now after all these years. He needs to grow thicker skin.
To show I'm not just blowing smoke, I'm sending off an email to the Gettysburg NPS to try and find out what the heck is going on with the Peace Light. Someone was kind enough to answer my inquiry a few months ago about the paving that ran too close to some markers/monuments, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt (for now), that I will get some kind of response. Whether it's satisfactory or not remains to be seen. _________________ "Let us have faith that right makes might..."
- Abraham Lincoln
My email to the park service. I haven't sent it yet, so I can still tweak it. Perhaps others can critique it and also send your own letter.
(Just a note. If you go to the NPS Gettyburg website, they provide an opportunity to send a message to them. It goes to someone. It just doesn't specify who it goes to.
This concerns the Peace Light Memorial. It's now been four months since it was vandalized and other than a metal sign out front being cleaned up, the monument has not been touched. We were told that several consecutive days of nice weather were needed in order to get it cleaned up. There have been plenty of opportunities in recent weeks to start the clean up and nothing's been done. I know that several people are getting more and more agitated about these delays and would like some kind of legitimate response from the Park Service as to why this is taking so long. A response could possibly alleviate some of the growing agitation. One person says they were told at the visitor's center that the monument needed to dry. The monument was never dry enough in the last 16-17 weeks? Perhaps if we were given a legitimate reason as to why it's not been cleaned up yet, there would be a little more understanding. The apparent lack of explanation from anyone of authority makes this whole thing even less tolerable.
A lot of us, even if we aren't going to visit the site soon, were hoping it would be cleaned up in time for Memorial Day. It doesn't look like that is going to happen. Meanwhile, several other projects within the park continue on. Thanks in advance for a response.
-Chris _________________ "Let us have faith that right makes might..."
- Abraham Lincoln
RickAllen Official Chronicler of Gettysburg Tours!
Joined: Feb 13, 2004 Posts: 4285 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 9:05 am Post subject:
That sounds like a reasonable enough letter, Chris.
Would you like me to write the response, or do you want to wait for it from the NPS?
Seriously, I didnt even start jumping on thier heads until April 23...........that was 3 1/2 months AFTER the vandalism.......its not as if I started lighting them up on January 10th or something.......I cant wait to see what they tell you, I really cant.
I do hope that you get a decent, logical response.........as a tax payer, you (and all of us) certainly deserve one.
Regards,
Rick _________________ " Do you like French fries, Wyatt Earp?"
Thanks for the reassurance. I thought it sounded good too, but then I've done a lot of things that sounded good AT THE TIME that made me later ask what the hell was I thinking.
I'll send it as is, and we'll all wait for a response.
I guess you might wait until you see what kind of response I get. Either way, I don't think it would hurt if they heard from multiple people. _________________ "Let us have faith that right makes might..."
- Abraham Lincoln
I thought I'd go this route before sending an email to a specific employee of the Park Service. This is what I did the last time and I did get a response back. Twice. _________________ "Let us have faith that right makes might..."
- Abraham Lincoln
Whether I get a response back soon or not, y'all may have to wait a few days to give you an update. _________________ "Let us have faith that right makes might..."
- Abraham Lincoln
Joined: Feb 10, 2004 Posts: 2654 Location: I am here aint I?
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 9:39 am Post subject:
Chris,
Just dont hold your breath.. We want to meet you at the Muster.
JIM _________________ "The Flag, THE FLAG, Oh THE FLAG! G.K. Warrens last words on his death bed, August 8,1882
There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell. W.T. Sherman
I just noticed that they finally started the clean up, but for what it's worth, here was my response. She does, perhaps, answer the question about why they needed so much dry weather...and it had nothing to do with the monument itself drying out, but the ground it sits on.
See, if the NPS folks had just issued a memo weeks ago we wouldn't have had all this wasted angst about what was going on there.
Chris:
Gettysburg National Military Park's monument preservation crew will be
steam cleaning graffiti off the Eternal Light Peace Memorial on the granite
sections only tomorrow. We are using new equipment that requires the
placement of heavy equipment next to the monument and have been waiting for
the ground to dry out a little bit. The entire process should be complete
in the next 4 weeks.
If you ever have questions about an issue at the park, I am always happy to
try to answer them.
Thank you for your interest in the National Park Service.
Sincerely,
Katie Lawhon
Public Affairs Specialist _________________ "Let us have faith that right makes might..."
- Abraham Lincoln
Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 2519 Location: By the winding Allegheny
Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 9:46 am Post subject:
Chris,
I am glad to see Katie replied to your letter. At least they did reply ..how long did it take for them to do that??? Let alone start cleaning the monument.
Is there not a concrete area directly in the front of the monument? surely something could have been done. What really gets me is that the Patterson house and its rehab has been sitting there for how many years in disrepair and they cannot take this spray paint off a monument in this amount of time?
Enough of my yammering.
Mindy _________________ There is nothing so kingly as kindness; there is nothing so royal as truth.
Joined: Feb 10, 2004 Posts: 2654 Location: I am here aint I?
Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 10:07 am Post subject:
Minds,
Keep in mind that they had to move A traffic cone to do it, and then had to reduce the number of said cones by two, and then replace them as well..
So the wheels grind slowwwwwwwwwwwwwly...
My front lawn grass grows faster then the NPS moves. LOL!
In fact, I think watching my grass grow is lot less frustrating then waiting on the NPS.
JIM _________________ "The Flag, THE FLAG, Oh THE FLAG! G.K. Warrens last words on his death bed, August 8,1882
There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell. W.T. Sherman
It took 5 days. I sent in on a Friday and received the response last Wednesday. I think that's a decent response time considering Katie may not have been the first one to read the email. It may have gone thru different channels before she got it. _________________ "Let us have faith that right makes might..."
- Abraham Lincoln
Apparently it's a lot less trouble to rebuild an entire sidewalk (that was still in good shape) and tear up some pavement than it is to slap some paint around a parking area.
Seriously, can they ask for money/donations for monument clean up, with a straight face, when they have money for projects that aren't pressing? _________________ "Let us have faith that right makes might..."
- Abraham Lincoln
Joined: Mar 04, 2004 Posts: 4926 Location: Suburb of Philadelphia
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject:
DARN - if only they went and took those pics anytime between 8:30 am and noon - our cars would've been in them
On a slightly more serious note - this turned out to be one of the very annoying occasions for my tour. Since there were no prior notices to this -obviously proper steps (and instructions) as to how to deal with particular detour were not taken by me.
Cresting the top of the ridge off Middle St and being hit with barricades and a sign that said "Road CLosed" I actually took the "March\Countermarch" Roads (well... applicable portion) to get to the Tower. Some folks just simply went back into town and did the E-Rd\Wheatfield Rd "detour".
Unfortunately Mark & Yan are not that familiar with all the nuances and being presented with said barricades they did not know how to get around the problem. In addition Mark's cell is an international number (so while he can call us (although I'm sure he wont be happy when he sees the roaming charges) - we cannot call him).
By the time he got a hold of me - we were by Herr's Tavern and despite my inisitence that we WILL wait for him he selflessly "sacrified" himself "for the good of the Community" and told me to go ahead with the tour without any further delays and not to wait for him. _________________ I Remain
Your Ob't Servant
Allan
Time sets all things right. Error lives but a day. Truth is eternal.
A Great Civilization is not Conquered from Without until It has Destroyed Itself from Within
Joined: Jul 16, 2006 Posts: 522 Location: Ashburn, Virginia
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:14 am Post subject:
Based on Gettysburg Daily's posting today, the filth still remains on the Peace Memorial. I cannot believe they have the nerve to leave that on there, after all this time, and to say that, for what they did clean off, they are pleased with the results. I want to type up a letter, stamp it and mail it, communicating my dissatisfaction with how they have handled things. Will it do any good? Who at Gettysburg Military Park should I send it to? Also, is there anyone in the goverment who would be relevant, in sending it to, in terms of oversight of the NPS, etc.? Any suggestions? Doesn't anyone have the power to get this done?
Joined: Jul 16, 2006 Posts: 522 Location: Ashburn, Virginia
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:51 am Post subject:
If Gettysburg Military Park began getting enough bad press, wouldn't that help move them along? Would it accomplish anything by writing letters to newspapers, congressman (Senators and/or Representatives), etc.? How can the story be put out there and then force action by the Gettysburg Military Park? It may be out of their realm, but, for example, could the Civil War Preservation Trust and other similar organizations mobilize their members to get involved in these things, writing letters, etc.? On the other hand, I feel kind of powerless, in that I am not a citizen of Pennsylvania, so I'm not sure that they will care to hear what I have to say. I find it hard to believe that nothing can be done. Surely, people can mobilize, draw attention to this topic, and shame the park into action.
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I actually took the "March\Countermarch" Roads (well... applicable portion) to get to the Tower. Some folks just simply went back into town and did the E-Rd\Wheatfield Rd "detour".
