Veterans Unite

Dear Editor:

Attention all veterans of Gulf County. We will have to unite for an upcoming problem in Gulf County. As you know after a long battle we finally have dedicated Veterans Memorial Park in Beacon Hill. It now seems due to our district county commissioner we will be placed away from the area that we now hold dear. The front area where the flags and bleachers are located and the same area we use for Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs. Note: the nice county-approved signs stating Veterans Memorial Park at Beacon Hill and flags were paid for, not by the county but by the local VFW and American Legion posts and private donations because Gulf County did not have the funds to do so. This district county commissioner has been contacted about the proposed changes by the officers of both the VFW Post 10069 and American Legion Post 116 with NO response on his part.

What we understand is now “his” plan will be to make a kids playground in the now Veterans area and we will be moved to the back of the park. We will be classed as second place by anyone. This is, after all, a Veterans Park, not a playground. Gulf County has plenty of play areas and one to note here is the one here in Highland View – bet most did not even know of this one. With little use by anyone, and most local children playing in the streets, while again in Highland View we have a well-used boat ramp and “park” area that is now to the point of being unsafe to use by the boaters and public seeing no repairs.

When “our” park was just in the talking stages I contacted this same district commissioner about getting two Vietnam Era helicopters donated to the park for free. I even made a trip to have contact in Georgia give the okay. With no action by the county or commissioners we lost these.

Contact your county commissioners no matter what “district” you are in. This is one of the times we as Veterans and concerned voters need to unite to have one county-wide voice of the public. We served with pride to our country during time of war and of peace. Now we deserve this dedicated Veterans Park.

John E. Parker

Gene Dykes

Highland View