Steptoe Battlefield State Park deserves care

Just want to report the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever seen in my life at the Steptoe Battlefield State Park located in Rosalia.

On Nov. 2, just two days after Halloween, I started my morning walk up South Summit Avenue to the Steptoe Battlefield State Park and disturbingly found at the parking area near the battlefield monument that it was littered with beer cans, cigarette butts, and, of all things, toilet paper strung all over the native bunchgrass!

Unbelievable to know how people can be so disrespectful of a sacred battlefield, where not only U.S. soldiers were killed but Native Americans were killed as well on May 17, 1858, 163 years ago!

There are many of us Rosalia Volunteers that deeply care about this sacred battlefield, which is the most important tourism asset to Rosalia.

It was recently verified by Washington State Parks is that the Steptoe (Tohotonimme) Battlefield is the only Native American battlefield in the United States that is located in a town.

Please pass this on to remind all of us how important it is to preserve and take care of our American historical treasures.

Diane Nebel

Rosalia volunteer