LETTER: Jill Pacetti says there is still time to do the right thing

Jill Pacetti, St Augustine, provided Historic City News with this letter; originally sent to the mayor and four city commissioners and city manager John P Regan, Sr.  Keep in mind as you read her letter to our elected public officials and the appointed city manager, Pacetti is a descendent of Eusebio Pacetti who is listed on the War Memorial. She is the lead plaintiff, joined by the Veterans Council of St. Johns County, and the Ancient City Chapter of the Military Officers Association, who sued the city to temporarily enjoin them from taking any action to move the cenotaph until such time as an qualified architect and licensed engineer could determine the fortitude of the 141-year-old masonry construction.

Dear Community Leaders,

Our family would like for you to consider the following offer with regard to the Confederate War Memorial. Due to the fragility of marble and its inherently flawed composition, we are asking that you please remove the marble plaques and cross and safely crate and store them. We would like for the city to please consider leaving the obelisk in the Plaza De La Constitución. We could rebuild the memorial at a fraction of the cost to taxpayers. Most likely we could avoid any further cost as local contractors have offered generously to help rebuild the structure.  

We are very aware of the economic burden that St. Augustine residents and businesses endure. In four years, we have suffered through two major hurricanes and a pandemic. Although a non-refundable deposit of $75,000 has already been paid to Progressive Movers, that is minor compared to the great loss city residents and business owners will suffer if you move forward with the relocation.  

At the moment, we are looking at a cost of nearly $300,000. We all know that this is a baseline cost. If there is extensive damage or any damage that price goes up. The Plaza has an eyesore of work trucks, fencing, and chaos at the moment that would cause any unsuspecting tourist to stay away. This will cause surrounding business owners to suffer greatly. Part of the contract with Progressive spells out trimming of trees and moving other structures in our plaza. This is really unnecessary.  

Please do not interpret our offer as approval of your relocation decision. Our family is still strongly against the removal of our loved one’s cenotaph. Your decision to continue with the relocation has given us no choice other than to ask you to please consider this solution to avoid almost certain irreversible damage as well as catastrophic cost.

There is still time to do the right thing.