I was touched by a veteran’s letter about no longer being allowed to take walks at Punchbowl’s National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (“No exception for veteran exercising at Punchbowl,” Star-Advertiser, Kokua Line, May 14).

As a non-veteran, I rarely think about veterans in daily life, but our weekly walks on Punchbowl reminded us of their sacrifices. An unintended consequence of prohibiting recreational walks: out of sight, out of mind. I wonder whether veterans and their families prefer that we stay away and forget, or that we be reminded of their sacrifice at risk of disturbing mourners with quiet walking?

More disturbing must be the helicopters that regularly fly over at low altitude. I live in a condo at the same altitude as the cemetery. The helicopters are flying much lower than the 1,500-foot restriction over Punchbowl and surrounding condos. Could we have the restriction enforced around Punchbowl so helicopters don’t disturb and endanger mourners as well as nearby residents?

Dan Suthers

Punchbowl

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