To pound home his point that Los Angeles bears a greater responsibility toward military veterans than almost any other American community, the laser-focused activist Robert L. Rosebrock unearthed an intriguing spot of data. “More veterans,” he said, “live within 50 miles of the (Veterans Administration grounds in Brentwood) than in 42 states combined. That’s how important this institution is. And it is being neglected in all areas. I must add, though, the medical service they can do is good.” In the view of Mr. Rosebrock, today’s mushrooming “problems” were foreshadowed as the population of this formerly isolated area, near the intersection of Wilshire and San Vicente boulevards, sharply increased. Residents formed the Brentwood Homeowners Assn., which has evolved into the present day Veterans Park Conservancy. Having assumed the difficult role of outspoken loyalist for his military brethren, Mr. Rosebrock identifies himself as a “Vietnam Era veteran.” He is careful to distinguish his military service from that of actual combat vets. He insists the Conservancy’s nature-centered agenda is strongly at odds with what he believes is best for the needy veterans.
Equality for the V.A.?
“After people moved into this area, they started dictating what could go on at the V.A.,” charged Mr. Rosebrock. “If you attend community council meetings, as I have, all they talk about is ‘What are they going to do over there (at the V.A.)? What are they going to do over there?’ Yet the V.A. does not sit on the board of any of these community councils. They don’t have a chance to say, ‘Why are you tearing down that house and building a 4-story condominium? It’s obstructing the view. It’s noisy, and it’s needlessly pushing up dirt and dust.’ The V.A. people just sit there and get kicked around. Then along came the ‘Veterans Park Conservancy.’” Mr. Rosebrock said the onetime homeowners group has “cleverly” clouded what he says is its true agenda. By gaining Congressional designation as a “veterans service organization,” because at least one veteran sits on the board of directors, he said, the Conservancy has won instant credibility. It makes for very “clever” marketing, said Mr. Rosebrock. “When you have ‘veterans’ in the title, everyone thinks it is a good organization.” He does not want to be “disrespectful,” Mr. Rosebrock said. “The Conservancy has done some good things since the group started (under a different name)about 20 years ago. They have gated the National Cemetery, and they had beautiful wrought iron fencing put up. They have refurbished the chapel, which is now known as the Bob Hope Chapel.”
Is the Fat Lady Singing?
As with many activist agenda-driven organizations, said Mr. Rosebrock, the Conservancy refused to leave the stage when its work was over, when its agenda was completed. “They have just kept going,” he said. “I don’t know what their goal is.” The chairman of the board of the Veterans Park Conservancy, Maj. Gen. Gwynn H. Robinson, U.S.A.F. (Ret.), vigorously defended his people last summer. He asserted that the Conservancy has only sought to “protect the 880 acres known as Veterans National Park from commercial development.” The Conservancy, according to the general, “has successfully fought off major developers who have tried to turn this land into shopping centers, condominiums and an NFL stadium. This fight…continues to this day.” He wrote that “much” of the V.A. grounds has “fallen into disrepair.” The Conservancy, he said, was committed “to preserve, restore and enhance the property.”
‘Beauty’ Sounds Like ‘Duty’
When the Veterans Park Conservancy completed a beautifying project last spring that Mr. Rosebrock labeled “pretentious,” the community group tried to tie a ribbon around its achievement. They were proud of themselves for having the words “Beauty, Honor, Country,” in lovely gold lettering, inscribed on a prominent stone wall. The wall is at the entry to a newly named patch of V.A. land, Gateway Plaza. Controversy over the validity of the three simple words soon erupted. Mr. Rosebrock, who is 64 years old and lives in Brentwood, became angry when he learned what had been done. “Beauty, Honor, Country,” he contended, was a disgraceful mockery of the historic West Point motto, “Duty, Honor, Country.” He voiced his displeasure rather eloquently. By authorizing a sign that cutely sounded like the hallowed Army motto but in fact was very different, the Conservancy insulted all veterans, Mr. Rosebrock declared. When the furor was at its peak last summer, he accused the Conservancy of “belittling the hazardous rigors of military duty” by tranquilly casting it as “quaint beauty.” The Conservancy, he went on, was guilty of “either a foolish blunder or outright blasphemy against the highest code entrusted to all who serve in our military.”
Part 3: Tuesday.
