The following article appeared on Record Enterprise on March 3, 2006.

North American Training Lodge - To The Forum

William Gifford, President of the North American Training Lodge is quoted in the Record Enterprise as stating “there is a local minority who has gone on a campaign of lies about who we are and what we are… if we have to educate people of what the process is , then so be it.” And again “We have a standing offer to have a working group session with the Selectman”. Bonnie Lane in her letter states that she and her husband “were one of the few people who got to hear the Training Lodge present at the first work session”

The reality is that the Groton Selectman tried without success to have the North American Training Lodge present to a public meeting but was turned down. (see www. Grotontown). I do not understand the unwillingness of NATL to be open and forthright in presenting their case to citizens. What is the real purpose of this military-like training facility? We have the US military, the NH National Guard, state and local police protecting us and being training in already available facilities. Whom does NATL wish to attract –vigilantes? Foreign mercenaries? Radical militias? I wonder how the chiefs of the Plymouth and PSU police feel about the likelihood of these “trainees”, who are not subject to military law nor contained by military police, coming to Plymouth for “recreation”.

Mr. Gifford said he had no information available about the noise levels, yet in the material presented in January, NATL states that noise from a rifle shot is reduced to the level of speech at 5000 feet (about 1 mile). How is it then that we hear noise of from neighboring towns that has traveled miles over the mountains and valleys? I daresay that at our home in Dorchester and those of many others in the Valley which face one of the identified training facility sites, would be effected to a greater extend than some places in Groton, yet when approached by the Dorchester Selectman with a request for a presentation, Mr. Gifford has indicated he will only talk to Groton residents.

Mr. Gifford notes that there were concerns regarding Wal-Mart, but the parking lot is full. While I continue to have some concerns with Wal-Mart, I agree that it has brought some benefit to the community. What value and benefit will the training facility provide? The true impact of this facility will not be known until after it is in place and then it will be too late. Without Land Use Regulations, once established there will be no limits as to what occurs there and thus no limits to the detrimental effects on rural peace and calm and no limits as to how far property values will fall in the region surrounding NATL.

I applaud Mr. San Souci in his attempt to support the neighboring town of Groton. As to Misters Kelly and Ward, I suspect they would be in favor of a nuclear waste dump in the area if the proposal indicated it might lower their taxes (whether true or not).

Sincerely,
William S. Trought M.D.