St. Johannes Cemetery Alliance SJCA eNews Saturday, August 27, 2005 FEIS Public Hearing As you all are probably aware, on July 28, 2005 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP). For those SJCA eNews readers, who were unable to wade through the tens of thousands of pages of this report, the FEIS did contain approximately ten pages referring to the cemeteries - St. Johannes and Rest Haven. In a nutshell, they (FAA) declared that the religious concerns raised with respect to St. Johannes and Resthaven Cemeteries were sincere and very serious, and that such concerns require special consideration under the U.S. Constitution and Federal law. The report also recognized the historical significance of St. Johannes, indicating the conclusion that St. Johannes is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and that additional study is required regarding the historical aspects of Resthaven Cemetery. However, despite all of these facts and favorable statements, the FAA claims that there is absolutely no way to accomplish improvements at O'Hare without putting a runway directly through the five acres of St. Johannes Cemetery. Obviously, this is hard to believe or accept. Although there are thousands of acres at O'Hare, many ways to draw lines on a map, and many alternative ways to decrease air traffic delays at O'Hare and throughout the Chicago region, the FAA has not made the necessary effort to develop any such alternatives to date. As some of you may have heard, the report also stated the FAA's conclusion that Rest Haven could be spared, but with limited access. Although this is movement in the right direction and shows that our continuing efforts are having impact, the concerns for Resthaven are not resolved. Apparently, the current redrafted plans for airport use around Rest Haven would leave it completely surrounded by jet-blast retainers, with the great probability of high aircraft traffic and noise, that would render Rest Haven almost unrecognizable as holy, consecrated ground. As required by law, the City of Chicago will be holding a local (Chicago-land) Public Hearing during which time they will be hearing oral comments in reference to this revised FEIS report. Again, we call upon you to raise your continued concerns and support. For those of you who are able, we request your presence at this important event. You will have the opportunity, if you wish, to make public statements regarding the irresponsibility of this destructive plan, both from a historical and a religious perspective. Written statements will be accepted at this meeting, as well. For those out-of area supporters who will not be able to make it to this public hearing, you may email your comments to the following email address: sell_111@hotmail.com<mailto:sell_111@hotmail.com> We will make copies of the emails received and hand-submit them to the governmental officials at the public hearing. Please keep in mind that the OMP certainly assaults a broad number of community issues, such as: * historical sites * schools * local industry and businesses * homeownership * minority citizens of our communities * health and welfare organizations * local government Feel free to comment on any of these issues. However, as the readers of this newsletter know, the central and key issue for us is the direct attack upon the freedom of religion, which includes the right to allow our deceased loved ones to remain in undisturbed, consecrated ground. If at all possible, we need your presence and your voice at this public hearing - your voice IS very important at this critical stage, and needs to be heard. If we do not speak out now against these affronts to religious freedom - and do so in numbers - we will have no chance to affect the final decisions of the FAA that are expected early this Fall. Also, because this decision will be a precedent for the Government, the failure to speak out with respect to this very public project, will surely be the basis for additional injustices and the whittling away of everyone's freedoms in the future. Today it may be St. Johannes and Resthaven Cemeteries, but tomorrow it may be your Church, or your business, or your home. I am reminded of the quote by Pastor Niemöller, who years later spoke of his resistance to the Nazis during the Second World war. It certainly can, I believe, serve as a reminder to us today: In Germany they first came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me - and by that time no one was left to speak up. Pastor Martin Niemöller - 1945 Please plan to attend this very important Public Hearing, and to pass along this newsletter to anyone who may also have a concern about what the OMP is doing to our communities and our religious freedoms. Here is the information you need to place on your calendar right away: Public Hearing on the FAA's FEIS Tuesday, September 6, 2005 Four Points Sheraton O'Hare 10249 West Irving Park Road Schiller Park, Illinois 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.