Growing up in Watsonville and traveling through the area of Fort Ord recalls many happy childhood memories. Your attention to holding this land for future visitors and residents makes it possible to enjoy a part of California that is natural and coastal. Where there are now hotels there used to be sand dunes which I always found fun and sometimes impossible to climb. My cousins, aunts and uncles found our conquest of the dunes time for laughter playfulness. Preserving what still remains is commendable. Thank you for your oversight and attention to my homeland.
Soto, Alice J., Costa Mesa

Perserving the old Fort Ord by turning it into a national museum was so smart. Thank you for your part in getting this to happen. I appreciate your good works and I am in awe of the hours you put in to get "things" done. This does not go unnoticed by me.
Merlys, Modesto

I grew up in the Monterey Peninsula and witnessed all of the Army Service People that went through training there. Including my best friend, raised in Seaside, also trained there. Unfortunately he perished one week after he was deployed to Vietnam in the hands of the North Vietnamese and Vietcongs! Fort Ord, indeed, is an historical monument manifesting all the carnages suffered by our military thru all the post World War II battles our USA have endured. Preserving Fort Ord will be a little gratitude we could extend to all our service people that gave the "ultimate sacrifice" to preserve and continue the "freedom" lots of us enjoy, notwithstanding, overlook daily. As a former Vietnam Air Force Veteran, I salute you for your passion.
Dan, Carmel

As a Vietnam era vet, I am extremely pleased that you are taking an interest in veterans. I would like to tell you that you should do more of the kind of work that involves veterans, and make it known publicly. We – vets - need more politicians who are interested in veterans affairs. We gave it our all and you should too. Respectfully
Joe

Thank you for helping to get National Monument designation for this site! Thanks too, for your continued hard work on behalf of America's people.
Diane, Sacramento

Thank you for taking the initiative to create a National Monument at Fort Ord to honor our veterans and for all to enjoy. Our family appreciates your support of environmental issues.
Silka, San Diego

Thank you for your support of Ford Ord, the three-fold asset to CA, the veterans, and the nation. It is deeply appreciated.
Diana, Redding

Although I commend you and others for helping to keep and preserve Fort Ord to commemorate our military. However, the best commemoration would be to make sure our troops have jobs to come home to and adequate mental and physical health care for all the troops. National monuments, no matter how important, will not feed nor provide adequate healthcare for our fathers, mothers, daughters/sons and granchildren.
Ursula, Sanger

Thank you for information on your trip to Fort Ord and its dedication. I think this is a good action and am very pleased to have you for our Senator you are very responsible and hardworking an outstanding Senator.
Maryan Wokas, Lincoln

Thank you for the Fort Ord photos. My family spent over four wonderful years there in the mid-to-late 1970's. It was a nice trip down memory lane to remember those times. I am delighted that 15,000 acres have become a National Monument.           
Helene, Bonsall

As a Vietnam veteran who trained at Fort Ord, I appreciate the fact that Senator Boxer gave her enthusiastic support to the proposal to turn the area into a National Monument. The Fort Ord experience binds many veterans over many years, and seeing it fall into a decaying state of limbo after its closure saddened me, and I'm sure, bothered other veterans as well. At age 66 I still delight in the notion that I may still visit this place of memories, and hike the back country where we were "tortured" into a physical condition, never again to be equaled (for most of us) for the rest of our lives. This is a prime example of how a government that represents the common man is so necessary. In the other extreme rampant capitalism, in the form of greedy land developers, would have turned those lands into whatever would turn a fast buck. Thanks to Senator Boxer, and others, the true meaning of that special place will be preserved and respected!
Robert, Ukiah

My father trained at Fort Ord and I still believe it is a complete waste of money to designate this place to a National Monument or any other Govt owned money pitt. Don't you get it Senator Boxter? We are broke! Stop spending ANY money on non-essentials.
Dan, Santa Cruz

Thank you for preserving the land that housed Ft. Ord. I trained at Ft. Ord for basic and advanced infantry and was sent to Fort Benning in Georgia. I am a Vietnam combat veteran and the training I received at Ft. Ord help keep me alive in Vietnam. Again thank you for your service to our country.
Jay, Culver City