Pinon Canyon slide show

I recieved an e-mail from my cousin this a.m which included a link to a slideshow for Pinon Canyon. I just wanted to share it with you guys. It's part of an effort to fight against the Army getting more land. The web address is www.pinoncanyon.com. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Debbie Hernandez
Alamogordo, NM

Thanks for sharing this, Debbie. It's very important that we tell our Senators to support the no-funding bill. The Army can't buy or take land without funding. I think it's interesting that you're in New Mexico ~ the "BIG MAP" shows the Army taking 7 million acres, including a large section of N.M.

Dave, I grew up on a farm in Manzanola which isn't very far from this area. I remember when the Army first got Pinon Canyon and it use to be a beautiful place. Coming from a farming back ground I relate to these ranchers. Living down here next door to Holloman AFB and The White Sands Missile range as well as Fort Bliss's McGregor Range I know that there is a LOT of desert that could be used for exercises. I can't say for sure what all they do around here right now but trust me there has got to be enough room for them to coordinate some exercises. They could do this without taking away a family's life and living. I also have a real hard time with destroying such natural beauty. Now, maybe I am biased because people say there is beauty in the desert but in my opinion mesquite bushes and sand just can't compare with the grass and brush as well as the canyons that they would be tearing up.

Well, it's all connected as part of the central shortgrass prairie ecosystem - very complex and diverse in wildlife and habitat. They plan to drop live bombs from unmanned aircraft, run tanks, build barracks and transfer thousands of troops. Towns will turn into military towns and 5th generation cattle operations will be condemened aand turned into bombing ranges. Migrations paths, used for a millenia will be cut off. Pronghorn and other animals that need a lot of room will be displaced. It's all interesting, considering the landscape is the same region that was the epicenter for the American dustbowl of the '30's - the worst environmental catastrophe in our history. Ranchers have managed the land well enough to prevent another, in spite a worse drought in 2002-2004. The Army doesn't even "need" the land - they already have the land they need for training. I don't believe it's unpatriotic to hold them acountable and ask the right questions. A rancher once told me that if the Army really needed the land to protect the country, they could have it. They don't.

Loved th photos and information. Thanks for sharing.