Kristoff: Don’t Locate Rink Closer to Memorial Grove of Trees; Let Byram Boys Rest in Peaceful Open Space

Submitted by Robert Kristoff

I spoke at one of these meetings not that long ago. I find it disappointing that we are still here.

As a lifelong Byram resident, home owner, business owner, and U.S. Army veteran, I fought for this country, I fight for this neighborhood, and I fight for the 13 service members who gave their lives for our freedom.

If you have never served then you may not have as deep an understanding that the fight is not about war. It is actually about peace.

If you have ever spent any length of time visiting the grove located at Eugene Morlot Park then you will know how peaceful it is there.

I understand that an argument has been made that the new rink poses no threat of destruction to the grove of memorial trees.

But you have to admit that the encroachment on the site is glaringly obvious. If you build this new rink at the proposed scale in this location then you will rob these veterans of the peace that the current site provides.

Is your money and ice time worth more than the peace of the Byram boy who risked and lost their life to ensure yours?

There are a lot of people making decisions about this project who are not from the neighborhood, they do not live in the neighborhood and, therefore, they do not have a vested interest in the neighborhood.

It is obvious to me that this proposed project is not serving a public interest. It is serving a private interest and that is not what this space is for. Byram is important and it always has been.

Byram’s history is important and its residents are important. I don’t know how to make you care about other people, but I do know that lost friends, neighbors, and brothers are worth way more than any amount of money and lost ice time.

I hope that at the very least you will take that into consideration. I urge you to keep the rink in its current location and to not encroach upon the peacefulness of Morlot park.

Let the Byram boys rest, in peaceful open space, under the quiet shade of the sycamore trees.

Robert Kristoff