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Governors Island Needs Our Help

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  • #16
    Re: Governors Island Needs Our Help

    Hello,

    March 18 at 11:59 is the deadline to post comments regarding the GMP at Governors Island. If you have not yet been able to post a comment please help out and leave one if you can. Below is the links to leave comments and a form letter to use if you wish. Feel free to change the form letter any way you wish. There was a hearing the other day for the GMP and the New Globe Theater had many people there and had High School kids reading statements for them for people that could not attend so we need to get as many people from the LH community involved in sending comments. Thanks in advance for helping and thanks to everyone that wrote in already.

    From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army on Governors Island was part of the social, political, and economic tapestry of New York City. It was home to the US Coast Guard from 1966 to 1996. Today, the island is a vibrant venue of art, culture, and performance against the backdrop of two centuries of military heritage and the skyline of one of the great cities of the world. The island is open to the public.




    To whom it may concern,

    After reading and reviewing the Proposed General Management Plan for the Governors Island National Monument, I would like to take a moment to comment on the proposal. It is my belief as Taxpayer and citizen of the United States of America that it would be a great injustice to utilize the Governors Island National Monument as anything but a source for the education of the visiting public. I understand there is a proposal to develop Castle Williams into a theater to be used by the New Globe Theater. In my opinion as a taxpayer this would be tantamount to stealing from the American public. Castle Williams has stood as a beacon of freedom in New York harbor just as it is and converting the Castle into a theater will do nothing but serve to destroy America’s history and the ability for the National Park Service to use the building as an educational tool.

    Many men and women that served our Country proudly in many different branches of the Armed Forces served on the Island and its structures protecting our Country from invasion by sea and later to assure that people would remain safe in New York area waterways. To make Castle Williams anything but a monument to those that served would be a slap in the faces of every person that wore the uniform of the United States of America. Not only did people serve on the island, people perished there as well making the island and the structures upon it Hallowed Ground. Do the members of our Country’s Armed Forces that died in and around Castle Williams deserve a Shakespearean theater as a monument to their sacrifice? Of course the answer is No.

    There are other issues that are of concern within the proposal as well. It is my belief that Castle Williams, Fort Jay, the Glacis, Colonels Row and the South Battery should all be under the protection of the National Park Service. I understand that the protected area that currently exists does not encompass some of these areas but that should be changed. These additional areas deserve the protection of the Park Service for the same reasons I explained previously in the Case of Castle Williams.

    The National Park Service has the ability to utilize the Governors Island National Monument for what it should be, a source in New York Harbor to educate visitors from around the world about the history of the United States of America. This opportunity may never present itself again elsewhere in the Country. Where else can you find in one area two or three different types of fortifications used throughout the history of the country? The Park Service would be able to almost tell the entire history of the Country on one island. Another point is that the New York area although rich in history is lacking in the ability for visitation to historic sites mostly due to the modernization to historic areas. The modernization and the destruction of structures on the Island, mainly Castle Williams would repeat the cycle of the removal of New York’s historical footprint. The Park Service has been given the opportunity to begin to reverse the process of destruction by turning Castle Williams and the other structures of the Island into a destination of historical education. Currently the children of New York City and the surrounding area have a limited area in which to learn via visitation, the history of the City they live in. Governors Island can fill that void.

    The island needs provisions for visitation like facilities for educational programs and museums in order to enhance what is already available to the Park Service on the island.
    To sum up my comments as a Taxpayer, I would request that the National Park Service do everything possible to ensure the preservation of the Governors Island National Monument so that it can serve as a monument to those that served and as an educational tool for those in the future. To do anything less would be a disgrace.

    Best Regards,
    Rob Walker
    Co. H
    119th NYSV
    Old Bethpage Village Restoration


    Old Bethpage Village Restoration and Castle Williams on Governors Island safe for now. Thank you to everyone for your help!!

    "There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"

    Comment


    • #17
      Re: Governors Island Needs Our Help

      My short, but to-the-point comment:

      To whom it may concern:

      Speaking as a taxpayer and combat veteran of the Iraq War, Governor's Island does not need to be destroyed in favor of an outdoor theater because of its great cultural/historical signifigance to our country's Civil War Heritage. New York City has few Civil War-era sites that are in relatively-preserved condition and to deface this monument to the citizen-soldiers of our great nation would be an utter disgrace.

      Thanks- John M. Lloyd
      Johnny Lloyd
      John "Johnny" Lloyd
      Moderator
      Think before you post... Rules on this forum here
      SCAR
      Known to associate with the following fine groups: WIG/AG/CR

      "Without history, there can be no research standards.
      Without research standards, there can be no authenticity.
      Without the attempt at authenticity, all is just a fantasy.
      Fantasy is not history nor heritage, because it never really existed." -Me


      Proud descendant of...

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      • #18
        Re: Governors Island Needs Our Help

        Hi Folks,

        Quite astonishingly, there has been little support for this cause from the Civil War Living History community. I am currious as to why. Is it because it is being conceived as a lost cause? Well it isn't yet. Is it because its up in New York and not a historical site off of I95? Well then heres a reminder, men from VA, MD, SC, etc, etc etc, all died here. Is it because you don't have time to read through the Plan? Although you do have time to post and make replies on this site all day. Is it because the guys trying to get your attention here are unfamiliar to you? Maybe we are but if you ever marched in a preservation march or looked at who made donations in an effort to save portions of battlefields all across the nation WE are on the list and WE were in the ranks marching next to you each time.

        Are any of these reasons valid reasons to let a National Monument with 200 plus years of history be erased only for the pleasure of the misguided elite?

        I am very curious as to why when we are at such a critical phase in this battle I turn to see that nobody is standing in our ranks. I am embarassed by this communities lack of desire to focus its attention by responding at this most crucial hour.

        STEP UP! It won't cost you anything. If you don't, think of what we will have lost.

        Thanks,
        Rob Weber

        Comment


        • #19
          Re: Governors Island Needs Our Help

          Posted a comment for you guys:

          This country was torn apart and rebuilt by the American Civil War, that heritage belongs to all of us and the future. While the arts are an important part of expression and culture we should not destroy the material culture that connects us to the past as its expense. There are few places in the north east that have a material connection to the American Civil War that defined a generation as much as September 11th has our own. As a veteran and citizen I am appalled that those few material connections we have to our past would be endangered or destroyed for all time because of the vicissitudes of current administration or short term wants.
          I am, etc.
          Thomas Gingras
          Awkward Squad Mess
          Columbia Rifles
          Honorary SRR "Yankee"

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          • #20
            Re: Governors Island Needs Our Help

            Thanks for your support Tom!

            Rob Weber

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: Governors Island Needs Our Help

              Together we can stop this travesty against our history. NO DONATIONS ARE NEEDED. Just 20 minutes of your time. Please take the 20 minutes to read the Globes plan and make a comment. That is all we need. Time is running out. This is hallowed ground and should not be desecrated. Don’t let Wednesday come and have regretted not helping out. Just follow the links below, make your comment and ask anyone else you know that would care to do the same. Thanks again for everyone's help.

              Mike Scanlon
              119th New York State Volunteers

              Quote:
              A few times per year we make the trip via ferry to Governors Island for Living History and other programs. Recently the Park released it's General Management Plan (GMP) and Environmental Statement. The NPS is asking for comments relating to the GMP up until March 18th of 2008. The document can be viewed and commented on by visiting the NPS planning web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov or by visiting the Governors Island web site at www.nps.gov/gois.

              There are a few groups attempting to take away for the current park by making Castle Williams and Fort Jay into outdoor Shakespearean Theaters and another group that wants to make Castle Williams into a stray cat sanctuary for all the stray cats found in NYC.

              In addition to the comment period at the web sites listed above, there is be an open house to solicit comments on Wednesday February,27th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM and from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Federal Hall National Memorial at 26 Wall Street in NYC.

              When making comments please let them know if you think the area the NPS now holds should be expanded to encompass more of the islands historical landmarks and areas in order to save them from future development.

              Thank you in advance for looking at the GMP and for making comments.
              Mike Scanlon
              Company H, Willis Company
              119th New York State Volunteers

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: Governors Island Needs Our Help

                Bump!.............
                Rob Walker
                Co. H
                119th NYSV
                Old Bethpage Village Restoration


                Old Bethpage Village Restoration and Castle Williams on Governors Island safe for now. Thank you to everyone for your help!!

                "There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: Governors Island Needs Our Help

                  Tonight is the last night to voice your opposition to this. Please send in your comments before midnight tonight. Thank you to those that have already done so.
                  John Greenfield

                  GawdAwful Mess [url]www.gawdawfulmess.com[/url]

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: Governors Island Needs Our Help

                    BUMP!! Tonight is it!!!
                    John Greenfield

                    GawdAwful Mess [url]www.gawdawfulmess.com[/url]

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