Valley Forum: Veterans scapegoated

It’s easy to say “thank you for your service, veterans,” but it doesn’t mean much when we’re ignored by county government and misrepresented by this paper (“Sonoma Vets Sink Flood Control Project,” May 17).

Take the case of the – let’s call it communication problem – with the selection of the Veterans Memorial Building parking lot for the proposed underground flood control catchment project. At the Dec. 15, 2015 Sonoma City Council meeting, the major agenda issue was selection of one out of three proposed sites for said water catchment – with the City Council to vote on its preferred option following testimony by Sonoma County Water Agency representatives and the city public works director. The Vets’ parking lot was favored, in their testimony, because it would be the least-expensive of three sites. Now here’s the rub – both parties testified that the veterans, major stakeholders, had been consulted. At the end of the presentation, Terry Leen, representative to the County Veterans Building Committee, rose to ask – with what veteran had they spoken? The question was not answered. At a subsequent special meeting the Water Agency representative apologized profusely to the veterans assembled for the “oversight” – but the damage had been done. The site had been chosen and no alternative site was considered.

No one, certainly no stakeholder, likes being lied to or about, nor overlooked nor ignored. We veterans are proud, and we’ve faced adversity. Threatened by “bad PR,” we don’t back down. It feels to us that Supervisor Susan Gorin’s premature closure of the project was intended to scapegoat us.

Our parking lot was a bad choice. There were and are other equally viable choices.

The parking lot solution is short-sighted to potential future needs. Construction of the catchment will preclude anything else being built on that space.

In testimony Dec. 15, it was revealed that one of the main reasons water backs up on First Street West is that existing grates to water channels are frequently blocked by debris during storms. What portion of $3.8 million would it take to post personnel continuously during a storm to keep those grates clear?

Also revealed, an alternative means of water control would be to underground the ditch/channel on the east side of First Street West, but that wouldn’t please the five homeowners occupying the west side of the street: they like to hear the frogs. Apparently they were consulted.

I have lived here for 25 years – and I have never seen the northwest corner, nor any portion of the Plaza, flooded.

Why do we have veterans buildings? Because every war leaves its veterans estranged and disoriented. One of the best ways to bring veterans back into community is to create a space where we can create our own sense of community, a sense of belonging. That is why, following World War II, these buildings were built and dedicated for veteran use.

I’m proud to be a member of both Sonoma VFW Post 1943 and American Legion Post 489, because they give me the opportunity to interact with members of like experience, and because both Posts are deeply community-oriented, speaking of our Valley community. The amount of civic volunteerism we perform is prodigious. Our participation in Lake County’s Valley Fire relief was significant. Further, we look out for our younger brothers and sisters in service overseas by creating CARE packages, and half-width, gurney-size quilts delivered to the Med-Evac Air unit at Travis AFB for the wounded carried from Germany to Travis. We consistently provide escort to local fallen soldiers and comfort to their families by demonstrating how much we care. Most of this we do with no mind to recognition, we just do it because it’s there to be done.

VFW 1943, in particular, is home for me – you all should know that the Post has a complete distribution of veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and other conflicts in between. We all get along. We’ve recently started a “mentorship” (bad word; we call it “Buddy Up!”) program to welcome young vets and help them get their feet on the ground, as needed. (Sometimes they mentor us, especially in the tech world.) We’re also starting a child-care program at our meetings, so that young parents can attend.

Ted Sexauer is a member of the Sonoma VFW Post 1943.