Keep the military out of our state parks | Letter to the editor

Posted

First, I want to state that I am a supporter of the military and that no anti-military sentiment is motivating the composition of this letter. 

I am writing because I find the use of our parks by the military to be appalling and I cannot fathom why they were given permission to do so. This is not at all what public space is intended for, as it is meant for hiking, fishing, hunting, and other forms of recreation. It is not intended to be a place over which the military runs roughshod, alarming members of the public. 

There are several other options for the military if they want to perform exercises. Why not use Indian Island? It is already owned by the military and could well accommodate their exercises. 

Second, the military could purchase some other parcels of land; surely, with the highest military budget in the history of the world, this should be feasible. 

But most importantly, the military must desist from transforming a recreational space into a military one. I am firmly against the militarization of the Olympic Peninsula.

Rob Sullivan
PORT TOWNSEND