Protecting Forever Our Fields of Honor

By Patrick F. Noonan, Chairman Emeritus, The Conservation Fund

As Americans, we are united by our shared heritage. We learn from and celebrate our history so that future generations can better understand the places, people and events that shaped our nation.

This is the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on America. History isn’t something that just lives in the past; it is a cloth whose threads are constantly being woven—further binding our great nation. Looking back on that day and again feeling raw emotions, we are reminded of the heroism and strength of America, of the bravery of fellow citizens who sacrificed themselves to protect thousands of us.

We know one of those inspiring stories by heart: After hearing word about the hijacking of other planes and the horrific destruction in New York City and the Pentagon, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 made a collective and daring decision to take action. Working together, they fought for control of the plane, ultimately crashing it in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Honoring the passengers and crew and marking their place in history is essential for our collective healing, remembrance and inspiration.

On September 11, the President and First Lady will dedicate the new Flight 93 National Memorial, located at the crash site. This “Field of Honor” was once privately-owned. Volunteers immediately helped to protect it; today, thanks to the generosity of private citizens and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), this hallowed ground and Memorial will inspire our children and grandchildren.

For over 45 years, the LWCF has protected places significant to America’s history and heritage. It has protected Gettysburg, Yellowstone, and wildlife habitat and clean water across the country. And just as the Flight 93 National Memorial provides a unique and necessary opportunity to honor the heroism and collective spirit that brought us all together on September 11, these LWCF investments across the country have been vital to the many places that make us who we are as Americans.

Every year, a fraction of the revenues paid by companies conducting offshore oil and gas development are deposited into the Land and Water Conservation Fund. And every year, Congress has the ability to appropriate LWCF monies to protect historic or natural places, and provide matching grants for community parks and ballfields across the country. In spite of being a non-tax revenue source dedicated to protecting parks, open space, and natural resources, LWCF funding is continually diverted to unrelated purposes. This year, the U.S. House of Representatives is considering nearly zeroing out the Fund entirely.

In this time of national fiscal crisis, we have critical choices to make about the investments that will shape the future of our economy and our nation. When the President visits Shanksville to honor our past, we hope he can inspire all of us to appreciate what it takes to preserve our nation’s heritage. As a people, we need the stories that illuminate our past, and we need the generosity of spirit and resources like the LWCF to ensure those stories remain vibrant long into the future.