CEMETERY: Clear-cut travesty

I have been unable to go to my parents’ gravesites at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens (cemetery) since I visited it right before Christmas. The devastating wasteland created by clear-cutting the beautiful robust forest to the south of theirs and many, many World War II veterans and spouses on Government Way is painful.

Is there not one responsible steward of our local government or property owners who could not save one in 15 of those majestic conifers? Mayor? Public Lands overseers? Neighbors? The owner of that acreage, the seller of the acreage, the neighbors of that property? What happened?

I may be wrong, but most people choose to live here because of our natural vistas. Forests, mountains and foothills, lakes, streams. Fantastic private and public lands of vast conifer forests. I just stood at the edge of Hayden Lake yesterday, as always amazed at the forested hills surrounding that beauty.

But I can’t bring myself to drive on Government Way, or walk or bike, because of that eyesore behind Michaels and below my parents and father-in-law’s final resting place (U.S. Army, World War II). My father, Col. B.C. (Bill) McFadden (also veteran and Reserve office in the U.S. Army) would be furious at what they did to that edge. Couldn’t we have one in 50 trees left standing?

You can confirm what I am saying about the opinion of someone who has passed away. My father wrote letters, complained, talked directly to the Church Administration at Lake City Community Church when they clear cut the nice grove and natural barrier behind their last house on North Genoa Court. He called the City Attorney, and anyone he could think of, so I am not just making a wild allegation as to his response. I am glad my mother did not have to see that before we buried her ashes a year ago at the same section of veterans’ honored grounds.

When the public sees this on Memorial Day, I expect there will be more of an outcry.

JUDI KENYON HANNA

Coeur d’Alene