Editor,

It is with hopeful anticipation and sadness that I am packing up my stuff, readying to leave Ebey’s Prairie, my home for 68 years, and my family’s home for four generations.

As I hike the prairie, beach and bluff my mind is clouded with fond memories of people and events gone by.

I want to say to all of my Coupeville friends, and your ancestors, I love you and thank you for being such an important part of my life, weaving together what has been a rich, varied and vital community. What a great life, I cherish my time in Coupeville.

My mission in life has been to protect and preserve Ebey’s Prairie. Mentored and cheered on by Jimmie Jean Cooke, Albert Heath, Ned Johnston, Roger Leed and others, my work is done.

Notwithstanding the Navy’s destruction of the citizens’ health, safety, welfare and clean water, and its callous disregard for the sanctity of the Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, Ebey’s is in good shape and good hands.

With the capable efforts of NPS Reserve Operations Manager Roy Zipp, the Trust Board and Reserve Manager Kristen Griffin, the town and county, I believe that Ebey’s might be preserved forever.

I am pleased and proud to have been able to participate in this effort, a grand experiment in land conservation.

I urge all citizens to get involved and participate in the preservation and protection of this unique place in which you live. Don’t be afraid to fight for what you love. Remember, if you are not actively against something then you are implicitly for it.

Now, to all of those Navy lovers who authored but didn’t sign the horrible hate mail to me, some even anti-Semitic, you all said I should just move and that you would help. Where are you when I need you?

Good luck to all, friend and foe, your work is cut out for you.

Ken Pickard

Coupeville