Tell your reps you support NAS Whidbey | Letter

Published 3:14 pm Friday, March 6, 2015

Editor,

It appears that Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve is finally showing its true colors. Their desire is not to just close the OLF Coupeville and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. No, their aim is to remove the U.S. Navy from the great Northwest.

I knew they had a goal — I just did not realize how lofty that goal is.

They are now spreading their lies and yellow journalism throughout the area, and to the secretary of the Navy.

Apparently things are not moving fast enough for them.

Now their displeasure is not only noise, but also supposed radiation hazards from the Growlers trying to find and identify mobile transmitters in the Olympic Mountains — training that has gone there for decades with no discernible effects.

The noise from a jet engine is loud, and if you feel that it is damaging, wear ear plugs when they are doing their landing practices.

What did you think happens at an airfield? No one forced you to take that killer deal you made on the property you bought. The OLF is essential. The time they took off from using it in no way means it is not needed.

The people of COER, in my opinion, do not care what kind of a financial disaster would befall this area if the Navy were to pull up stakes and leave.

I wonder how the people of Everett, Bangor, and Bremerton feel about COER’s idea? I wonder what false information they are passing to the residents of those cities?

I’ll say it again — I will fight and dispute the claims they make, I will stand behind the Navy and all they represent, and I hope you will too.

Write our representatives let them know that the majority of us are just fine with the Navy and its training.

Do not be fooled. COER will do everything they can to see that the Navy leaves, and that would be a disaster.

Mike Van Voorst

Oak Harbor