Editor,

I was part of the group of veterans from Mission Continues that helped with maintenance and repairs recently at Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve on MLK Day featured in a Jan. 17 Whidbey News-Times story. Having helped address the backlog of maintenance and repairs at other National Parks, I am very aware of the $514-million backlog our parks in Washington state face; Ebey’s Landing faces a $6.1-million backlog, while Olympic National Park looks at a $140-million and Mount Rainier at a $286-million backlog of maintenance and repairs.

As we start the year with a new Congress and president, I would like to appeal to them both to step up and fund the critical needs of our National Parks. Any infrastructure package passed by the new administration should include provisions that address NPS deferred maintenance, and Congress must provide dedicated annual federal funding for park infrastructure needs. Preserving and maintaining these American treasures is something all of us, across party lines, can agree should be a top priority.

Matthew Moroge

Everett