NEWS RELEASE: Retired Senior Military Leaders Join 500+ California Veterans and Military Family Members In Urging President Biden to Designate Chuckwalla, Kw’tsán, and Sáttítla as National Monuments
The following press release was issued by Vet Voice Foundation on October 10, 2024
Washington, D.C. (October 10, 2024) — Alongside more than 500 Californian veterans, military family members, and supporters, retired generals and flag officers are calling on President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate the proposed Chuckwalla, Kw’tsán, and Sáttítla national monuments. These designations would protect over 1.2 million acres of land critical to military history, Tribal culture, and environmental conservation. The letter states:
“As military leaders, we recognize the strategic and historical value of preserving our nation’s natural and cultural heritage. Public lands hold profound military significance, not only as areas where military training and operations have occurred but also as places that veterans and military families have long cherished for their beauty and solitude – spots for reunion and reflection.”
California is home to more than 1.6 million veterans and 30 major military installations, making public lands a key resource for active duty personnel, veterans, and our families. These areas serve as spaces for reflection, recreation, and healing.
Janessa Goldbeck, CEO of Vet Voice Foundation and Marine Corps veteran, emphasized the importance of these designations:
“For military families, public lands like those found within the boundaries of the proposed Chuckwalla, Kw’tsán, and Sáttítla national monuments offer more than just beauty—they provide places to reconnect and heal. Veterans have a deep connection to these lands, and in the case of Chuckwalla, hold historical significance dating back to World War II. Designating these national monuments ensures future generations can benefit from these spaces, just as we have.”
Further information on these monuments:
The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument would protect approximately 627,000 acres of the California desert and honor veterans by preserving a portion of the historic Desert Training Center, where General Patton trained military units for the “harshest of desert warfare” during WWII. Moreover, analysis shows that desert conservation is critical to supporting ongoing modern-day missions from five major military bases – Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, Edwards Air Force Base, Fort Irwin National Training Center, and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. Furthermore, these protections would help ensure habitat connectivity for desert bighorn sheep, burro deer, and other wildlife impacted by climate change, and protect important tribal cultural resources. The proposed national monument would not only support operational training, it would also support the social, mental, and physical health of military members and their families by providing access to public lands stationed aboard these California bases. The proposal has significant community support locally and throughout the state.
The proposed Kw’tsán National Monument would protect 390,000 acres and is the homeland of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe. This landscape is uniquely situated in the perimeter of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps military installations in the surrounding Imperial and Yuma Counties, respectively. The areas within the proposed Kw’tsán National Monument already offer many opportunities for military families and veterans to enjoy recreation, reflection, and connection with the land. Protecting and preserving this place into national monument status would provide equitable access to nature for all, including military families stationed nearby.
The proposed Sáttítla National Monument would protect a 200,000 acre area, within Northern California’s Medicine Lake Highlands, that is sacred to the Pit River Tribe and that serves as one of Californina’s most important headwaters, providing clean water to millions of people, farms, and businesses. This special and sacred place provides solace and healing for many, including veterans returning from combat. Its rugged beauty offers a natural retreat, fostering mental and emotional restoration for those who have given so much in service to our nation. Protecting this landscape is not just an environmental imperative but a commitment to the well-being of our nation’s defenders.