Would you thumbs down a military cemetery in your back yard?

2015-06-08T08:57:38-04:00

Dongping Huang, speaking at a recent Irvine City Council meeting, said she lives about two minutes from the Great Park and was shocked when she found out a cemetery was being proposed "in my backyard, next to my son's future school."

http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/cultural-taboo-property-value-worries-hit-veterans-cemetery-1.351195

IRVINE, Calif. — Residents concerned about cultural taboos and property values are opposing a move to convert a former air base into the Southern California Veterans Cemetery.

Asian residents say a state cemetery on the 125-acre Great Park site that was formerly the El Toro air base would violate a cultural taboo of living near the dead, the Orange County Register reported. Residents are also worried property values will be damaged.

Orange County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation chair Bill Cook, a Vietnam War-era veteran who served at El Toro and has lead the fight for its conversion to a cemetery since the air base closed in 1999, said the site is "where thousands of American teenagers last stood alive on American soil."

But in feng shui - the ancient Chinese practice of spatial arrangement to promote health, harmony and prosperity - a cemetery near homes or schools is a constant reminder of mortality and death. Portola High School would be within sight of the cemetery. Nearly 40 percent of the residents in Irvine identify as Asian, though many don't necessarily follow the same cultural practices.

Dongping Huang, speaking at a recent Irvine City Council meeting, said she lives about two minutes from the Great Park and was shocked when she found out a cemetery was being proposed "in my backyard, next to my son's future school."

"We respect the veterans. ... They fight for our freedom," she said. They should rest in a "quiet, beautiful area," not amid soccer fields, Huang said. If the cemetery is built, she said later, she would probably move.

About 130,000 veterans live in Orange County, and nearly 1.9 million live in California. The state formally identified the site for a cemetery last year, but state Department of Veterans Affairs officials said the project still needs millions of dollars and they won't apply for federal funding until July 2016 at the earliest. If they get funding, it could still be years before a cemetery is developed.

Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer said he has a 288-acre parcel in his district near Anaheim Hills that might also work, but he still supports the Great Park location for a veterans' cemetery.

"Any county cemetery proposal that I consider for the public or veterans will be an independent project and not in competition in any way with the effort at Great Park," Spitzer said.

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Jun 8 at 2015 9:00 AM

2015-06-08T09:00:40-04:00

I'd allow it in a heartbeat. I'd consider it an honor.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 9:02 AM

2015-06-08T09:02:25-04:00

In my yard or land nearby? Residential area or other?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 8 at 2015 9:09 AM

2015-06-08T09:09:24-04:00

I'd love one! I actually have a historic cemetery in my back yard (about 750 square feet) now with graves tracing back to the early 1800s. I did a rudimentary search and couldn't trace any of the names to any military records.

There are some nice things about having a cemetery in your back yard. The "neighbors" are quiet. The city mows the lawn and it's a great place to go sit and reflect.

Every so often we'll get knocks on the door of people tracing roots asking to visit the cemetery, which we never say no to. I live in Coventry, RI on Thompson Drive. The Read and Thompson families - which you see graves for in our cemetery and others in town - were the muck-e-mucks of the day who owned a lot of farm land that comprises the modern day town of Coventry. We have several adults some children and a still born child among the 20 or so grave stones. I'm pretty sure there are some unmarked graves or graves where the stones were destroyed based on the landscape.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 8 at 2015 9:11 AM

2015-06-08T09:11:55-04:00

Why would you? I would welcome it.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jun 8 at 2015 9:20 AM

2015-06-08T09:20:36-04:00

Free greenspace in CA, they are idoits to oppose it! Honor vets and limit commercial development around your house. Win win

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 9:33 AM

2015-06-08T09:33:44-04:00

Since that is where MCAS El Toro used to reside, I would say it's an apropos place. But knowing the residents of the area who moved there knowing there was an air-station used to complain constantly about the noise. It was never about the noise, it's was always the leftist's dislike for the military.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jun 8 at 2015 10:18 AM

2015-06-08T10:18:55-04:00

I would not, I would actually welcome it in my neighborhood, BUT I am not a follower of Feng Shui.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 8 at 2015 10:27 AM

2015-06-08T10:27:42-04:00

Not only would I NOT thumbs down it, I would volunteer for the grounds keeping/maintenance team.

Response by SPC Jeff Paulsen made Jun 8 at 2015 10:39 AM

2015-06-08T10:39:22-04:00

I don't see why they couldn't place it on the other side of the park and not against the current property lines, like the south east region?

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jun 8 at 2015 10:40 AM

2015-06-08T10:40:33-04:00

I know people that are working to get it.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Jun 8 at 2015 11:23 AM

2015-06-08T11:23:32-04:00

Tell her to stuff a sock in it. These are American military personnel we are talking about. What has she done for this country?

Response by SGT Gerald L. K. made Jun 8 at 2015 1:00 PM

2015-06-08T13:00:19-04:00

I would very much welcome it in my back yard it would be an honor

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 1:06 PM

2015-06-08T13:06:46-04:00

Spatial arrangement aside, I always give a big thumbs up to a military cemetery in my backyard. Having said that, I can see both sides of the argument and I'm sure an acceptable place can be found, and maybe those attending the local schools can visit and learn a little about the people who served so they didn't have to.

Response by LCpl Justin Cuevas made Jun 11 at 2015 9:00 PM

2015-06-11T21:00:25-04:00

Its a shame that after careful planning people still complain about it. In my town, people are raising hell about a Veterans home to fulfill the needs of the northern portion of our state.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 15 at 2015 1:18 PM

2015-06-15T13:18:55-04:00

This is in stark contrast to the Netherlands where 6,000 of our troops are buried in the effort to liberate the country. Each of them are adopted by a family to pass down this homage to younger family members, and participate in an annual ceremony to thank the deceased veterans. They HONOR our fallen warriors.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Jun 15 at 2015 4:01 PM

2015-06-15T16:01:48-04:00

She said she would move. Problem solved.

Personally I would love it, quiet neighbors, a great place to sit and reflect.