The American Memorial Park

Most people do not necessarily enjoy going through anything involving a process. The process in this case pertains to a set of rules governing activities at the American Memorial Park now in the hands of a certain federal agency.

We agreed, through the Covenant, to lease this property to our mother country. Money was appropriated to build it so it includes a timeless memorial for our men in uniform who gave their precious lives so that freedom descends among the people of these islands.

While the agreement provides for a lease back, we haven’t employed this process with the federal government so that management and disposition of the property is in the hands of the local government.

In recent years we’ve learned that the area has shrunk considerably in terms of land size to accommodate the 4th of July celebration. We’ve also learned that the park requires the removal of all structures built for certain events and appropriately so because it is under federal agency management. This latter requirement bruises our ego and so we start hurling political rhetoric against park management. We hardly even think that the people who are given custody for management of the park are only doing what is required of them by way of duties and responsibilities.

If we really want control, management and maintenance of the park for any and all local events, including the construction of semi-permanent facilities, then there’s no way out except to engage in the process of commencing negotiations with the federal government to lease back the property.

But in doing so, we must also review whether in fact we have the resources to defray the cost of maintenance to which current park management has done a sterling job keeping the place clean, grass clipped neatly, hedges and trees trimmed, painting of facilities, water and electricity, and the orderly organization of all scheduled events. This would the local government at least $1.5 to $3 million a year for management and maintenance cost.

Finally, the park must be viewed with pride by all US Citizens treading these isles for there stands the flag of our country as a reminder of the sacrifices of both our men in uniform and our parents who gave up so much for freedom. The least that we could render to memorialize with dignity the importance of the monument of freedom is to reflect upon what it actually represents in the history of these isles beyond the usual provincial rhetoric that is basically empty unless we engage the process of negotiations to lease it back. Si Yuus Maase` yan ghilisow!