ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) - A Detroit suburb plans to relocate a war memorial, but war veterans and opponents say they were not consulted and worry about losing tradition.
The Royal Oak City Commission voted recently on moving the memorial by 40 feet, the Detroit Free Press reported. Architects have told city officials that a new location will improve pedestrian flow, citing construction of a new park.
Jim Klotz, 78-year-old veteran of the Vietnam War, questioned the decision during a Royal Oak Veterans Event Committee this month.
“So the veterans don’t have a say on this? I don’t live in the city, but I’m with the veterans group and our post is a block away,” Klotz said.
Royal Oak Mayor Mike Fournier said the city’s memorial is a popular site for public events and private moments. He said it will be more effective in the new location.
“Sometimes, you’re moving things to make ways for progress. In this case, we’re moving the war memorial to enhance it, to get more people to see it and actually to protect it,” Fournier added.
Fournier said moving the memorial would cost about $20,000, which is modest considering the $3 million price tag for the city project. Officials have budgeted $150,000 for memorial space, which includes foundation materials, landscaping and lighting.
The 2.2 acre park is part of a city project to renovate the public space downtown. It includes a new city hall, police station, parking deck and a six story outpatient services building for Henry Ford Health System.
Bill Harrison is a downtown storefront landlord and former board member of the city’s Downtown Development Authority. He stressed that the move is a waste of city resources.
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