Letter to the Editor 11/24

Editor:
I am 64 years old and am proud to be an American. I stand behind our military and veterans of all wars and service periods. I am an Independent politically and conservative thinking on most issues.

I am a gun owner, a hunter and a trout fisherman and enjoy hiking and taking in all that is offered in Pennsylvania, be it the PA Wilds area or Pennsylvania’s many state parks and public forest expanses. I’ve lived my whole life in the state and enjoy everything that Pennsylvania’s State Forests have to offer. I’m not what you would call a tree hugger or an environmental warrior. In other words, I am like many that reside here.

Decades ago, late 70’s to early 80’s, as a young man fishing a small native trout stream on the Young Woman’s Creek Watershed of Clinton County, I was enjoying a beautiful late summer day under blue skies and gentle breezes along a stretch of stream I walked miles off blacktop to access then walked even more to get to some great spots. Nothing and I really mean nothing including the ravages of age will ever make me forget that particular day. Not because of the serenity and beauty I was enjoying. It is atypical of what I expect or anyone could possibly ask for when you are in God’s green mountains and cold clear trout streams, we are blessed to have. On this day, things changed.

About an hour into fishing, I heard a sound at distance that I had never heard or experience before. At least, not up there! It was a low rumble that overtook the delicate sounds of my stream, the breeze and the birds. Within 10 seconds, as someone who attended live rock concert events and wore overly loud headsets in his days as a radio DJ, this low thunder sound quickly escalated into what I estimated was a 120 to 130+ db sustained roar against the sides of that hollow as a black fighter jet, low enough to pick out rivets and signage on its underbelly, blew by my position followed by a wave of either air or sound or both that put me down on my knees. It was followed immediately by a second flyover at low altitude but over the ridge from where I was. Not as loud but equally terrifying. YES! Terrifying is how I describe it. It didn’t belong there and was totally unexpected. (Think out of a clear blue sky)!

All I could do was shake! And that’s what I did for what seemed a long time. I actually checked my drawers to make sure the event didn’t do the literal “scared” expression to me.

With my ears ringing, unable to catch my breath for quite some time and my whole self being shook to the core, I walked out. I was done for the day; Period. As a mere kid in my twenties, there was nothing slightly cool, inspiring or awesome about the BS that I incurred. You may ask, “Maybe you should put your big boy’s pants on” or “suck it up, buttercup”!!! “It’s for our national defense”!!!!!!

NO!!! That noise and disruption to that environment was a complete abomination to all humans and wild animals alike.

Now the military wants more airspace. And with it, more restrictions on private pilots, hang gliding and disruptions to residents, animals and tourists alike. I have an alternative to the plans:

If it’s just adding more topography for our pilots to train over, fly our military pilots from the west coast or desert southwest to our MOA you already have and control here. Fly our regional ANG and AF pilots out west or the southwest to train on their unique geological/topographical MOA’s you already control.

In other words, don’t add air space, use the airspace you have and move the pilots to train over specific terrain.
Gee! Sounds like a win/win for everyone including the taxpayers of this nation and the animals and residents plus visitors to our wilderness areas nationwide currently unaffected by air-space grabs.

There is nothing vital to our national security by having the Low-Level MOA extended or expanded over Central and North Central Pennsylvania.

One of our nation’s greatest symbols is that of the Bald Eagle. This symbol of our country has come back and they are establishing nests throughout our local watersheds. They are a very private raptor and can be disrupted in many ways by human interference. Guess where many of these birds currently reside?

Looking deeper, much of the celebrated Dark-Sky Region of Pennsylvania would be included in this expanded MOA. The dark-sky area of Pennsylvania is hailed as the best night-sky viewing locations anywhere east of the Mississippi. I have news! What is wonderful for the eyes is equally wonderful for the ears.

I have been spending time away from my home in a very congested, noisy and populated suburban setting of Cincinnati Ohio. You cannot escape the noise there. It’s everywhere and it’s something back home that can be taken for granted.

I ask everyone in Central and North Central Pennsylvania to seek out a quiet place. It can be in the state forests far from an interstate. A mountain top away from other people and their cars. Maybe it’s in your own homes if you are lucky enough to live off the beaten path. No airplanes. No fans or appliance sounds. No music. No TV. No cell phone. No truck or car sounds. Nothing artificial! Just the breeze and the birds and the sound of yourself. If you find such a place, enjoy it and protect it. They are becoming increasingly rare and they are very much worth saving. I ask Governor Wolf, all our state senators and legislators, the state DEP, the PA Game Commission and PA Fish and Wildlife and of course, the Dept of Forestry and everyone who feels as I do to write and speak up about this air space grab. It is just wrong on so many levels!

Craig Vuccola
Mill Hall, PA