Congressman: Pennhurst still considered for veterans cemetery

Plans for a a new veterans cemetery at Pennhurst may be back on the table, U.S. Congressman Jim Gerlach, R-6th, of West Pikeland, said Tuesday.

Gerlach said the site in East Vincent would make sense because it is more centrally located for veterans than the Bucks County property the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was previously considering.

He added that he is “cautiously optimistic” that plans can move forward.

“I think they’re taking a pause and really considering if they should move forward in Bucks County or not,” Gerlach said.

Pennhurst, a state-owned site, was originally rejected by the VA because of certain rock formations and other topographical issues, Gerlach said. Now with a second look, the site seems more fitting for a cemetery.

“It’s in better condition than we originally thought,” Gerlach said.

A report is also expected to be released soon detailing whether or not the site would be able to host a cemetery, he said.

Gerlach, who along with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., sponsored legislation authorizing a new national veterans cemetery. It was signed into law by President George Bush in 2003.

Veterans Affairs previously selected a site in Upper Makefield Township, the Dolington tract, which was under an agreement of sale to Toll Brothers Inc. The development company said that in exchange for selling the land to Veterans Affairs, it would need zoning approval on additional properties to build more than 200 houses.

A zoning amendment was passed in Upper Makefield, Newtown and Wrightstown, but provisions of the ordinance were challenged by a resident who owns a farm near Upper Makefield and Newtown. The challenge and zoning issues caused Veterans Affairs to second-guess the site, opening up the possibility for a cemetery at Pennhurst.

“The VA made a decision for Bucks County before they knew if they were entitled to the property,” Gerlach said. “Now they have some options to really get this done.”

The veterans cemetery was not the only topic Gerlach covered. He took the time to comment on the situation in Iraq, as well as the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Gerlach said that he expects to see a change in strategy by next year and the withdrawal of some troops from Iraq.

“I think next year will be the year of repositioning,” he said. He does not support withdrawing all troops from the region at once.

“Most people, I think, understand that how we leave is important,” Gerlach said. “We’re going to have to continue to have a presence in the region for stability.”

But withdrawing some troops, Gerlach said, could send a message to the Iraqi government that U.S. forces will not always be there to take care of the country.

“At some point, the Iraqis have to want to become a nation,” Gerlach said.

He also expressed frustration with the Iraqi government and said its leaders “haven’t gelled yet as a parliament and government,” but didn’t go so far to say that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki should step down.

Gerlach’s comments came as the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, are slated to present a report to Congress in September on the war.

From going around and talking to voters, Gerlach said he has noticed a “dwindling patience by the American public” for the war.

On Gonzales’ resignation, Gerlach said it is better that Gonzales has resigned instead of staying in power during the investigation.

This article was written by Brian Fanelli and published by Pottsmerc.com on Tuesday, August 28th 2007 and NOT owned by nor affiliated with opacity.us, but are recorded here solely for educational use. The photographs featured in the article are randomly selected from the Pennhurst State School galleries on opacity.us unless noted otherwise; they may not directly relate to the article subject matter except for the site location - any other relation is purely coincidental.