How Project BRAD came to life…

In March my husband and I took a trip to San Francisco. Out of that I wrote the commentary below.

Recently I took a trip to San Francisco. I love it there, the weather was great and the beach was quiet. We spent quite a bit of time exploring the paths less touristy. We spent several hours exploring Fort Point, Presidio and other bases. DLT was Navy for over 11 years, so parts of this trip were down memory lane.

We drove out to Treasure Island. Aside from the absolutely terrifying change from bridge to island (worse yet is island back to bridge), it is a wonderful journey. He went to Naval School on the Island before reporting to the USS Lincoln. Crossing on to the base there is an overwhelming feeling. When you cross the gate you can feel the energy that hangs in the air from the Sailors past. See, the base was decommissioned in 1996. It is considered public land now, although it is still owned by the USN.

Even with it not being a hustle and bustle like it once was, when you look at the steps of the buildings you can almost see the sailors bounding up and down them. You can easily picture the sailors going between buildings, some laughing, some upset. The ghosts of the base still linger, and you can not avoid feeling the certain energy.

As you drive away from the main building, the energy starts to change as you start to see the disarray the base has fallen into. Most of the barrack windows are broken out, the Commissary is in poor shape, some of the base housing has turned in to public housing. Some of the buildings are being used by companies. They did turn one of the admin buildings into an adult learning annex, which was common on every decommissioned base we visited. The energy has turned to a more humbling one.

One thing that struck us was the fact they left a gun turret. They had it fenced in, with the standard warnings on it. The fact they left it was not the surprise – the fact that youth in this nation have no respect for military is what hurt us. See, the signs were ignored. The turret and gun were tagged with graffiti. Why are parents not teaching that these actions are so disrespectful to all who have fought for our right to live in a free country, some with the utmost price? You can almost hear the screams of the spirit of the base in this area.

The one thing we did not expect to find intact was a design painted on the side of the barber shop. It is an anchor with the pole going up through it. It refreshes the energy of the base. Another thing still intact is an anchor that marks the entrance to one main building. As you drive further down that street you see civilians living in old base housing. Trash is strewn about the streets, old cars litter the lawns.

As you leave the base you are saddened, and somewhat confused. What saddens you is a combination of the knowledge that this is still a military owned area that appears to have been completely lost in the shuffle of paperwork, and the knowledge that the youth of today will never understand what this base was, and will not be required to correct the mistakes they have made. What confuses you are the odds and ends that appear to still be highly cared for, while other areas are in such disrepair.

America, why do you not show respect to the men and woman who served our country, in all areas of your lives? Why do you pick and choose when to be respectful and when to be nasty? On Treasure Island the citizens living there have so much history to explore, yet they appear not to care in some areas, and to care a lot in others. What type of planning does it take to destroy one military icon, yet pass others that are more accessible?  Teach your children to show respect. Set a good example by showing respect yourself.

Another base we visited was Alameda. Now this one has a very active museum – the USS Hornet. As you arrive it is a completely different energy. You still are haunted by the spirit of the base, yet the hustle and bustle is still present. As you approach the USS Hornet, you are met by guards. You are allowed to board the ship and explore. There is still a military presence that reminds you where you are, yet it has changed, and you are aware of the change as well.

It is exciting to look up at the sheer overwhelming height of the ship, and interesting to hear someone telling you that it is a small ship. For those who have never served in the Navy, it is a true learning experience. For those who served, it is refreshing to see the base still splashed in haze grey.

What happens to our Nations military bases is something every American Patriot should be concerned with. When a base closes and it becomes available to public use, it is the job of the public to care for it and maintain any relics left behind. The public that moves in needs to show enough respect to care for the history of the land they now occupy.

Compare the two bases I discussed. One is being occupied by civilians yet still owned by the government. The other is a landmark of sorts. The one being occupied by civilians is falling down, literally. The civilians who have moved in show no care or concern as to where they are, or the history of the area. Yet another area is shown so much respect and gratitude for the services provided.

While it may not be financially sound to spend millions on a decommissioned base, there are small steps that can be taken to ensure the history is preserved, especially when the base is still owned by the United States Navy. The civilians can also take steps to ensure the preservation. They can refurbish some areas; create a neighborhood watch to prevent destruction. There are many things that can be done.

What about you? While you may not live on an old base, do you know the history of the land you live on? Were military ever there? Did some historic event long forgotten happen there? What can you do to show respect to those who lived there before you? Would you be willing to donate time to a local base? How can you step in and make a difference? What can you do to show you are proud to be an American?

Stand up and take charge of your history America. It is never to late to start. If you do not start now, no matter how small, your children will not do anything, and soon military will have no respect shown for their past, and all they have given us. The future depends on us.

Don’t let those who gave us all they had be forgotten like this.

>> Out of this I received Presidential Acknowledgement and that led to potential Federal Grants to get the project off the ground. This project needs the help of all Patriotic Americans who do not want to see the history of our beloved bases disappear. In order to help Project BRAD just visit often, comment, and show there is an actual interest out there.

Thanks!

Advertisement