Vote YES on Measure B on June 5 for an OC Veterans Cemetery!

YES on Measure B is endorsed by an amazing bi-partisan coalition of political leaders and organizations, veterans organizations, environmentalists, labor union leaders, and editorial pages, including:

• The Orange County Democratic Party
• The Orange County Republican Party
• The Orange County Register
• Congressman Lou Correa 
• Congresswoman Mimi Walters 
• Congressman Alan Lowenthal
• Congressman Dana Rohrabacher 
• Governor Jerry Brown 
• California Board of Equalization Member Fiona Ma
• State Senator Josh Newman 
• State Senator Janet Nguyen 
• Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva 
• Assemblymember Steven Choi 
• Assemblymember Matt Harper 
• Assemblymember Tom Umberg (ret.)
• Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer 
• Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel 
• Irvine Mayor Donald Wagner 
• Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Christina Shea 
• Irvine City Councilmember Melissa Fox 
• Irvine United School District Board Member Paul W. Bokota
• Irvine United School District Board Member Lauren Brooks
• Irvine United School District Board Member Ira Glasky
• Irvine Community Services Commissioner Lauren Johnson-Norris
• Irvine Planning Commissioner Anthony Kuo
• Irvine Finance Commissioner Roger Sievers
• The American Legion
• The American Legion Riders
• The American Legion Auxiliary
• The Veterans of Foreign Wars
• The Marine Corps League
• The American G.I. Forum
• The Vietnam Veterans of America
• The 40 & 8
• The Orange County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation
• Veterans Alliance of Orange County
• The League of United Latin American Citizens
• Nick Berardino, President, Heroes Hall Veterans Foundation
• Jennifer Muir Beuthin, General Manager, Orange County Employees Association
• Bobby McDonald, President/Executive Director, Black Chamber of Orange County
• Brig. General (ret.) Robin Umberg, Undersecretary, California Dept of Veteran Affairs
• Irvine Chamber of Commerce
• Orange County Business Council
• Los Amigos of Orange County
• Irvine City News
• Laguna Greenbelt, Inc.
• UCI Law Professor Katie Porter
• UCI Ecology Professor Kathleen K. Treseder

My family has a long history of service. My father sacrificed his hearing flying combat missions over North Korea as a bombardier and crew chief.  We lost his cousin in combat at Inchon.  All of my uncles served in the Marine Corps.  My grandfathers and my father-in-law served in WWII in the Navy.  There are many more.  I respect and honor our military tradition and I serve the residents of Irvine.

I was one of the earliest and strongest advocates for a Veterans Cemetery located at the old El Toro Marine Air Station.  I attended and spoke at every Irvine City Council meeting where the Veterans Cemetery was discussed.

My strong commitment to an Orange County Veterans Cemetery located on the grounds of the old El Toro Marine base in Irvine has never wavered.

My goal always was, and remains, to establish this cemetery as expeditiously as possible.

The choice is now yours.

A “YES” vote on Measure B means there will be a veterans cemetery. 

By voting YES on Measure B on June 5th, we can break ground on the Orange County veterans cemetery immediately — a location that has already been approved by local, state, and federal governments.

A “no” vote means the promise will be broken.

The necessary decontamination of the original site is far too expensive (more than $77 million) for the state or city to undertake.

Moreover, if Measure B fails, the original site will not remain as a contaminated junk yard, but instead will no doubt be sold or leased to a developer willing to invest in the extreme costs of a massive cleanup.

Both sites will then end up being used for more commercial buildings and residential development.

I campaigned on the promises to ensure a veterans cemetery on the old El Toro Marine Base and to safeguard taxpayers’ dollars, as well as to reign in runaway development. The land exchange — Measure B — allows me to keep each of these promises.

The June 5 vote is NOT an “either/or” vote on the location of a veterans cemetery, but rather a “yes/no” vote on whether there will ever be a veterans cemetery at the former El Toro Marine Base.

This is not  – and should not be  – a partisan or divisive issue.  It is a commonsense matter that we can all get behind to respect and honor our veterans.

I campaigned on the promises to ensure a veterans cemetery on the old El Toro Marine Base, reduce traffic congestion, and safeguard taxpayers’ dollars,  The land exchange — Measure B — allows me to keep each of these promises.

Let’s do what’s best for veterans and for the residents of Irvine.

Vote YES on Measure B on June 5!

Note: For more information about the veterans cemetery, please see:

Putting Politics Aside to Honor Veterans with a Final Resting Place

Stop Playing Political Games with Veterans Cemetery

Stop the Politics and Build the Veterans Cemetery Now

Distinguished Environmental Group Laguna Greenbelt Endorses YES on Measure B for Veterans Cemetery!

Irvine Takes Historic Step Forward for a Veterans Cemetery at the Former El Toro Marine Base

Tell the Irvine City Council to Keep Your Promises to Our Veterans

The Strawberry Fields Site is the Best Location for the Veterans Cemetery. Now Let’s Get it Done!

Don’t Be Deceived By The “Save The Veterans Cemetery” Petition!

OC Register Slams Agran, Lalloway, and “Despicable,” “Misleading” Veterans Cemetery Petition

Help Us Defeat the Paid Mercenaries who have Invaded Irvine and their Fraudulent “Save the Veterans Cemetery” Petition!

As the daughter of an Orange County Korean War combat veteran, I am proud to have participated in making sure that Orange County’s veterans – who have sacrificed so much for us – will at last have a final resting place close to their families and loved ones.

Please help by voting YES on Measure B.

Thank you.

Melissa