El Toro Base--Site for Cemetery?

* Your article “Options for Vets When Bases Close,” Sept. 22, is a subject very close to my heart.

Since the El Toro base closure was announced, I have been trying to get the right persons to consider taking a sizable chunk of the 4,500 acres and turning it into a cemetery for our military.

Didn’t we offer our veterans a place to be buried at no cost? Most of us don’t think of it, and it’s hard to believe that in a county of our size, there is no military cemetery.

Nearly three years ago, we had to bury my father, and the closest resting place for him was Riverside. I consider that a very long way to go to visit him with any regularity.

We also had considerable dealings with the small county veterans services’ office in Santa Ana. Your article is correct that they are severely understaffed. They tried hard to help us secure the funds to help my dad, but we were buried in red tape, and papers were lost.

Closure of El Toro and Tustin will add hardships on this office. I’m glad to see that Supervisors Jim Silva and Charles V. Smith want to see staffing increased. But maybe they would part with some of the base for those who fought to keep it free.

GAIL REAVIS

Mission Viejo

* Meeting the future needs of Orange County for additional airport facilities has two options: expansion of John Wayne facilities or providing another facility located elsewhere.

If we view realistically expansion of John Wayne, we are confronting an enormous expense and the constraints of a fully established commercial and residential environment. The obstacles to be overcome legally and physically are overwhelming.

Option two is significantly more practical, is less costly and promises more satisfactory long-term results. The conversion of an established military airport which has all the basic components and existing provisions for minimizing objectionable noise to the surrounding community would seem to be a very logical choice to take care of the pressing need of Orange County to provide an additional airport.

It is my observation that most people need and appreciate airports, but “not in my backyard.” Somewhere along the line logic must prevail and our elected officials must have the courage to make a decision of maximum benefit to all of Orange County. If their decision is fair and not biased, they are doing the job for which they were elected.

W.P. DIETZ

Newport Beach

* Newspapers have been carrying reports of heavy spending by cities for and against an airport at El Toro. The biggest spender of all is Newport Beach, which has been pushing an El Toro project for many years. That city is concerned that when artificial capacity limits expire at John Wayne Airport in the year 2005, utilization of the airport will increase to its true capacity.

In leading the fight for a second airport, Newport Beach leaders have been arguing that Orange County needs more air capacity, as long as it doesn’t fly in or out of John Wayne.

Ironically for many residents of that city, the Federal Aviation Administration’s preferred flight path from El Toro for the largest and noisiest aircraft--like night cargo planes--will require flying low over UC Irvine and across the Newport-Corona del Mar-Laguna coast at under 4,000 feet.

A Freedom of Information Act request to the FAA uncovered this fact, contained in a report of a meeting between county consultants and the FAA.

LEONARD KRANSER

Dana Point