Writer makes plea to keep state park open
Iunderstand with some dismay that (New Jersey officials) intend closing the Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan.

Writing as I am from "across the pond," I find it incomprehensible that you should find it necessary to close one of the few historic sites that puts the state of New Jersey on the worldwide map - certainly as far as the Brits are concerned - I believe we got quite a hiding!

Having worked on a British television documentary on the Battle of Monmouth a couple of years ago in the Landmark series "Battlefield Detectives," I personally experienced the groundbreaking research the BRAVO team are making in battlefield archeology - all at no expense to the state taxpayer.

What a sad day when a member of this merry band of stalwarts may stand on the world stage at a conference and have to admit that they no longer have a state park for this important battlefield, let alone their unique research facility …

I suggest that this decision be reconsidered before making a very embarrassing mistake … maybe look at making a few savings in your own internal spends to save one of your most important world assets …

Roger Lucas BBC/Granada Television Manchester, United Kingdom