Editor,

I was taught at an early age to guard your freedom that this nation provides at all cost and that freedom is not inherited without cost. That cost comes in responsible exercise of that freedom that you inherit along with the consequences that follows.

The recent escalation of comments and actions of a local Central Whidbey citizens group expressing uncompromising opposition to the Navy’s continued field operations at Outlying Field Coupeville I view as a threat to our national security therefore as a threat to those freedom I refer to. I use the term escalation because this opposition began as an issue of aircraft noise impact on encroaching residential property surrounding OLF Coupeville, it has now advanced to an uncompromising demand that the facility be shut down altogether.

I understand Naval aircraft noise impact on residential property as we reside under the down wind leg of the northern approach to the OLF. What I don’t understand is the uncompromising demand to shut down a military facility impacting national security at a time it is being commented on 24/7 lately. If these citizens were agents of a potential adversary I might somewhat understand, but not self professed loyal citizens who say they respect the military as a necessary profession. Why then this uncompromising stance as the only acceptable solution to the noise impact problem?

It has been said, if this republic is to fail it will fail from within.

Thomas Strang

Coupeville