Citizens Express Concern Over USMC Exercises

Citizens concerned about Sparta’s agreement with the U.S. Marine Corps flocked to the White County Commission meeting Monday.

Resident Tom Farris openly questioned the Corps’ motives.

“So my question is, what country is the Marines preparing to invade that Sparta resembles exactly?” Farris asked.

Al Parker, the Marine Corps representative who set up the Sparta agreement, attended the meeting, spurred by a letter to the editor in a local paper.

“So to say that we’re here to take over, put down martial law, I’m sorry, that is not our goal, our goal is to give the best training for our Marines so that when they go overseas, they’ve been exposed to every possible scenario that I can give them,” Parker said.

Commissioner Raymond England said residents weren’t impressed.

England: “Do you realize most people in White County don’t want you training here in White County?”

Parker: “It’s understandable if they don’t, if we don’t get an MOU then we won’t show up in White County and there’s no hard feelings, seriously.”

Parker wasn’t on the commission agenda, and addressed the group during the citizens comment portion of the meeting.

The city of Sparta’s agreement with the Marine Corps is good for three years. At this time, it’s unclear if the Marines will train in the city.