What’s the next surprise from the new National Guard Headquarters?

With each article about the proposed headquarters, a little more seems to leak out about their plans. Originally, the only way it was going to affect the Maine Veterans Cemetery was by moving its entrance.

Now Guard members will report to the building for some weekend drills, but active military drills are “not expected” to take place there (“National Guard gets $32M for HQ,” March 14). No drills should take place there at all.

Why didn’t anybody think about going to the former Brunswick Naval Air Station? There is plenty of room for military drills and buildings to house the headquarters. And we’d save a lot of taxpayer money.

Now about the helipad. Do they really need one? There is already one at the Augusta airport 10 minutes away. Officials say it would be used sparingly to fly the adjutant general if necessary. Put him in his car and drive him to the airport. It’s not a Life Flight.

How would the helicopter coming in sparingly affect the burial of one of our veterans? Can you imagine the air turbulence and rotor noise hovering over or near a burial?

“A woodland buffer will render the building invisible from the cemetery.” Will that buffer prevent construction noise from disturbing the calmness, beauty, serenity and sacredness of the cemetery? Will this horrible noise cause a distraction during a funeral or burial, perhaps when they are playing taps?

All I ask for is that those “who have borne the battle” (A. Lincoln) be allowed to be laid to rest in peace and remain at rest on these sacred grounds paid for by the cost of many wars.

Patricia Paul

Winslow