Posted on 06/09/2004 11:18:14 AM PDT by RonPaulLives
Louisville Metro Council may discuss forest name change to honor Ronald Reagan
We are not allowed to post articles or news pieces from several Gannett publications to Free Republic, including the Louisville Courier Journal, better known to many of you as the Communist Journal. Therefore I will give you my account of what is occuring in an effort to change the name of Jefferson Memorial Forest to honor President Ronald Reagan.
The idea came from my good friend (for whom I once ran a campaign) and Louisville Councilman Doug Hawkins, R-25th District. Some Council members are bickering with Hawkins about it because they think that "changing the forest's name, which honors veterans, is not the right move." Not surprisingly, political hack and Democrat Mayor Jerry Abramson is opposed to the name change. He and other Democrats are suddenly and ironically becoming "hawks" when it comes to honoring the veterans for whom the forest was named, if only because they don't want to see Ronald Reagan's name attached to it.
"While it's natural during a period of national grief for people to search for ways to pay homage to a fallen national leader, Jefferson Memorial Forest is already named for leaders in our community — those who have fallen while serving our country in times of battle in a war," Abramson said through his spokesman, Jay Blanton.
The preserve, which dates to 1945, was named the Jefferson County Memorial Forest to honor veterans of World War II, according to the Encyclopedia of Louisville. It says the forest was officially dedicated in 1948 and later rededicated to the veterans of all foreign wars. Hawkins said he wants to call it the Ronald Wilson Reagan Veterans Memorial Forest. He said that he has spoken to a few council members and that several support the idea.
Ron Weston, D-13th, who represents the district that includes the 5,500-acre forest, said he believes that Reagan's name would overshadow the veterans in whose memory the park was dedicated.
"Ronald Reagan was a great leader," Weston added. "But he's honored in many ways already."
Council President and (RINO) Republican Kelly Downard agreed with Weston.
The resolution, which is scheduled for a first reading in two weeks, will require the proposed name change to be submitted to O'Dell Henderson, metro government's director of facilities management. Under city law, Henderson will receive public comment for 90 days and hold a public hearing on the matter. After that, he is required to make a recommendation to the council.
Hawkins said he had wanted to simply approve a measure changing the name but agreed to follow the process because he thought he would face less opposition. And he said he will push on despite the opposition from Downard.
"If he wants to vote against Ronald Reagan, he can vote against Ronald Reagan," Hawkins said.
Louisville Metro Council Web Site
Names, Phone Numbers, and E-mail Addresses of All Council Members
Metro Council
601 West Jefferson Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202-2741
Telephone: 502.574.1100
Hey RPL! I'm already scheduled to address the Metro Council regarding this matter at their meeting on the 24th. Call 574-1230 to sign up. they can only take 10 speakers so do it today! Will I see you at the Smrt for Senate/Reagan Tribute event? Check your email!
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