The California military cemetery that became a national shame

The Sacramento Bee ^ | May 24th, 2018 | Foon Rhee

[Mariner]

As on every Memorial Day, small flags will be placed next to neat, respectful rows of headstones at military cemeteries across America.

Neat and respectful is not how you would describe Mare Island Naval Cemetery – a forsaken plot of hallowed ground that fell between the cracks of Pentagon base closings and the city of Vallejo’s bankruptcy.

The oldest military cemetery on the West Coast is in utter disrepair. It is the final resting place for 800-plus veterans, including a few who fought in the War of 1812 and three Medal of Honor recipients. The daughter of Francis Scott Key, who wrote “The Star Spangled Banner,” is buried there, too.

But there’s a glimmer of hope that it could look a lot better by next Memorial Day.

[Mariner]

A disgrace.

But at least California's Commie Delegation is doing the right thing to fix it.

Mare Island has a proud naval history. It's the first US Navy base, or any base, on the West Coast (1853). Many sailors remember it fondly. You could not ask for a better duty station in the US.

[Parley Baer]

California needs more money to fund illegals. The veterans can be damned in their eyes.

[Vendome]

I wonder if there is anything we could do in the meantime?

[Mariner]

Local Vet organization will be there this weekend to try to pick up a little.

[Mariner]

The property was owned by a bankrupt city.

Pension promises.

Nothing to do with illegals.

[doorgunner69]

As if California gives a damn about veterans.

[nickedknack]

The only veterans ‘RATS support are dead ones. And of course, they’re generous with other people’s money. The California ‘RATS want the DoD and the VA to pay to fix the mess *they* made of the Mare Island cemetery.

[Cen-Tejas]

……….I think the article said 2 acres. 100 volunteers and just a little money, relatively speaking, could clean this up in one weekend.

It would obviously take longer to repair fences and headstones and other matters but “clean up” could take place pretty quickly.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

I lived in Vallejo for a brief time in 1968. I remember Mare Island when there were still Fletcher and Adams class cans in mothballs at the docks. There was the remains of an old elephant cage a few mile up the road.

This is a rare moment. I don't think I've agreed with Senator Feinstein since she was Mayor of SF and shut down the gay "bath houses" to slow the spread of AIDS.

[Mariner]

1/3 of the population cares deeply.

Perhaps you’re dismissing them too?

[Mariner]

The mess was made by the City of Vallejo.

That State had nothing to do with it.

[Mariner]

Frankly I’m dismayed at the posters on this thread who attribute this issue to the State of California.

Sheer ignorance and testimony to the fact the dumbasses didn’t read the article. And don’t care what the facts are.

They are Maxine Waters Republicans, and an embarrassment to conservatives.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

55 million people in Cali — tens of millions care. Same as here in MA, sometimes people forget that 40% of the population, a good handful of millions of people, are as conservative and patriotic as red state Americans.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Try explaining to them that there are over 2 million conservatives in the San Francisco Bay Area alone. The other thing that has become apparent since I move to AZ in 2011 is that CA conservatives tend to be hard conservatives while AZ conservatives, a tend to be much softer. I have two “Republican” senators that are not much different than Feinstein and Harris.

[deport]

The Mare Island Naval Cemetery was established in 1858 with the first burial occurring
in 1856. Between 1858 and 1921 when the cemetery was officially closed there were 922
burials there. The 2.43 acre site sits on a gradually rising hill looking east over the
Napa River
or Mare Island Strait

Some history about establishment forward.

http://www.mareislandpreserve.org/Russian_American_Navy_History_at_Mare_Island/Russian_American_History_at_Mare_Island_files/Mare%20Island%20Heritage%20Trust%20Position%20paper%2012_06.pdf

[Mariner]

They don’t care.

They go out of their way to be ignorant.

It matches up with their worldview.

[NonValueAdded]

The War of 1812 ping list.

1812 Veterans need our help ping
let your Congresscritters know this is a disgrace.

Please FreepMail me if you want to be added to or removed from this somewhat low volume ping list. Ping requests gladly accepted.

Also note that posts pertaining to The War of 1812 will carry the keyword 1812 (clickable) for your searching pleasure.

[nickedknack]

I use California ‘RATS to include federal, state, *and* local knotheads.

[YogicCowboy]

And the 40% are 100% disenfranchised, thanks to former Democrat and former Governor Ronald Reagan.

Amnesty is his most enduring legacy - and RINOs like Jack Kemp and Paul Ryan are loving it.

[EEGator]

Pat Tillman was from San Jose. There are numerous conservatives in CA. They’re just overshadowed by the libs in SF & LA. (good people there too)