“Public opposition to Nike sites generally stemmed from [a few] primary concerns: reductions in adjacent real estate values, falling boosters [...] and possible misfires or explosions” - John Smoley, Military Writer
“The announcement of plans to install Nike missiles on Bayberry Lane and North Avenue in Westport had upset residents who feared the military's presence would lower land prices and corrupt the town's young women” - Andi Rierden
Source: Rally Round The Flag Boys!
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Rally Round The Flag, Boys!This upset is illustrated in popular media from the time. Westport citizen Max Shulman wrote the popular 1957 novel Rally ‘Round the Flag Boys, which was later adapted into the 1958 film. In the book and movie, a Nike Missile site is placed in Putnam’s Landing, a fictional town. This caused the residents to have property value and safety concerns, leading to conflict. A representative then went to Washington, DC and attempted to convince the military that the town didn’t need a site. However, the military decided to build the site anyway and uses the delegate to promote it.
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Site PlacementIn Westport and Fairfield, Nike missile sites were going to be built where a high school (Westport) and baseball field (Fairfield) were proposed. More objections came from real estate agents, farmers, homeowners, who all contributed to the showdown in the national air defense effort. These events created conflict between the towns and the military.
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Source: ProQuest Database
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Source: ProQuest Database
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Conflict Between CiviliansWhile many citizens protested against the Missile Site in Westport, some became frustrated with these efforts. These individuals believed resisting the military would comprise the nation’s defense. Wesley Graff, a Westport citizen at the time, complained of “civilian pressure being applied to make the army do something against it’s better judgement.” (Source: Witkin).
"Westport will be eternally shamed..." - Percy Stone, editor of The Westport Herald |