http://www.legion.org/news/90170/legion-gettysburg-casino-disgrace



. Legion: Gettysburg casino is a disgrace
The American Legion - August 12, 2010
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The bronze statue representing the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry gazes to the west across the field of "Pickett's Charge" from the Angle on Cemetery Ridge. Here was the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy" on July 3, 1863. NPS photoCalling a plan to build a casino on the footprint of America’s bloodiest domestic battle site a “national disgrace,” the head of the nation’s largest veterans organization urged Pennsylvania officials to quash the project and protect the sanctity of Gettysburg.

In reasoning for his recommendation, The American Legion’s National Commander Clarence E. Hill reflected on the historical significance of the field where 160,000 Union and Confederate troops fought and nearly 8,000 died.

“When Abraham Lincoln dedicated the cemetery at Gettysburg, he said, ‘...we cannot dedicate - we cannot consecrate - we cannot hallow - this ground,’” Hill said. “Lincoln recognized then that it was beyond the power of men and women to consecrate this land any more than had already been done by the brave men who struggled there. Surely, he nor anyone else envisioned that someday this cemetery would be proposed as the site for a gambling hall.”

Although the proposal advanced by a Gettysburg business developer would place the casino a half mile from the 6,000-acre Gettysburg National Military Park, preservationists point out that the site would be next to where Union cavalry advanced toward the South Cavalry field – a substantial scene of the fighting. It is also believed that there are a number of soldiers buried in this area in unmarked graves.

“The battlefield actually encompassed a greater area than is currently designated as a military historical site. In order to show the proper respect, we believe that something as frivolous as a casino should be much more than a half mile away,” Hill said. “We need to be sensitive to the fact that this is a hallowed resting place and its tranquility should be preserved as much as possible.”

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) hopes to reach a decision before the end of the year after a series of public meetings.

Hill pointed out that this consideration comes at a time where the remains of American heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery have also been disrespected through a series of malfeasance by government officials.

“At least at Arlington National Cemetery, the desecrations were done in error and out of poor judgment,” he said “There is no way that The American Legion or the American people - especially her veterans - will stand by and let the memory and meaning of Gettysburg National Military Park be besmirched by this misbegotten plan to erect a casino in proximity to this hallowed ground.”

Peter Gaytan, executive director of the Legion's Washington office, will appear at 9:30 a.m. EST today on Fox News Channel to discuss the proposed casino.

IF they have the permits and follow the law, I say let them build,,,,only exception is IF they are actually building over hallowed graves(as opposed to just locations where people might have passed away)

Maybe Obama will chime in on this local issue AGAIN and put his foot in his mouth AGAIN and piss everyone off AGAIN!

Im really no more pissed than I was about Bush speaking to rich folks at a dinner and telling them they are americas base.

Speakers in every occupation, if they know their stuff, will incorporate the current events and topics that pertain to their audience.

What does that have to do with Obama running his trap about local issues?

good grief,,,,


it has to do with giving SPEECHES to an audience

which is what he was doing when he made the statement

that's twice now now he spoke about something that had nothing to do with him... and neither was speeches

from msnbc

"Muslims have the right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country," Obama told a White House dinner crowd celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan Friday.


transcript from washington post
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/08/obamas-remarks-about-ground-ze.html



as I implied, he was hosting a dinner with muslims so muslims were his AUDIENCE( just as the elite and wealthy were Bushes audience when he made the statement specifically to THEM that they were his base)


The president is an American, so long as he speaks respectfully and logically, he has the right to free speech that anyone else does. He said nothing disrespectful here, he spoke directly to specific people in front of him about a current issue that pertained to them. IT was just as much his business as a leader to do so as it was Bushs business as a leader to put in his two cents about current events(when he happened to read a paper,,lol) whenever he chose.

Da' bum has a right to his opinion.

His opinion don't mean jack.

If, he quit giving his opinion, he might be able to fool the fools who voted for him to do it again.

Opinion on, Huss!

<<not a fool at all and I agree with most of his opinions