WHITE CHAPEL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION

Dear friends,

On behalf of White Chapel Memorial Cemetery, we want to thank the citizens
of Troy for their support and encouragement during the past two years as we
struggled to raise our concerns about the negative impacts of the now-abandoned I-
75/Long Lake Road Interchange project. Sometimes we wondered if anybody in
local government was listening. Nonetheless, we were heard because of our
collective effort. As my father, David P. Krall, told me, “the partnership of White
Chapel and the residents was an important step for the city. Never before has such
an overwhelming group of Troy citizens joined with a business to fight for a just
cause, one that protected vital interests of residents who want to improve their
community, and one that protected the sanctity of sacred cemetery land.”

All of us at White Chapel want to congratulate the citizens of Troy for their
diligent work in protecting our city from a project that would have disturbed their
neighborhoods, impacted their wallets, and harmed White Chapel. Protection of the
Long Lake Road area, with further review of the Crooks interchange only, is the winwin
result we were seeking from the beginning as we raised our concerns with the
project. It shows the power that results when like-minded individuals interested in
the betterment of their community work together. The actions taken Monday night to
defeat the unwanted project are part of a two-pronged effort to improve the city, not
only by this immediate action but also through the election of new Council members
who are committed to better representing Troy citizens for years to come. Certainly,
our Council has come a long way over the past two years and we look forward to
work together in the future to continue to improve the city.

We want to thank Council members, Cristina Broomfield, Wade Fleming,
Martin Howrylak and David Lambert whose leadership and willingness to listen and
respond to the people is a true blessing for the entire City. We appreciate their
willingness to stand-up and oppose this project, and represent the people, despite
the strong opposition from the proponents of this project. On election night, I said
this was a victory for Troy. Monday’s night vote of 7-0 to abandon the I-75/Long
Lake Road Interchange project was simply one aspect of that victory. The other
prong is a new council majority that will listen to its people, and represent them
rather than rule over them.

I also want to thank my father, David P. Krall, President and CEO of White
Chapel. Two years ago, politicians and city administration officials told him “to get
on board” and that the project was a “done deal.” He refused to succumb to their
pressure and the representation of this project’s inevitability. He knew that he had to
stand-up and publicly oppose this project to protect the cemetery from being
harmed. He saw this project as it really was, an unnecessary waste of taxpayer’s
money that would not only harm White Chapel but would negatively impact the
neighborhoods and taxpayers’ wallets of the City of Troy. He knew the people of
Troy and the Metro Detroit area would not accept this project once the impacts were
disclosed. Despite the unfounded and baseless attacks from the former mayor, the
city administration, the current mayor and some current council members and city
council candidates, his fortitude was strengthened by the show of support of the
people of Troy for White Chapel throughout this struggle.

Finally, we want to thank the thousands of residents and businesses in Troy
who backed us in this effort, particularly the STOP INTERCHANGE NOW! (SIN)
Citizens Coalition, led by their executive committee, Linda Thielfoldt, Phil Ohman,
Mary Ann Bernardi, Eric and Susan Hunt, and the dozens of other members who
were the backbone of the SIN organization. A special note of thanks goes to the
unsung heroes of this effort, who did not stand at the podium but rolled up their
sleeves, went door-to-door, gathered signatures on petitions, attended community
and city council meetings, wrote emails and letters, and did the heavy lifting. Two of
these individuals, Don Forsyth and Dan White, are especially owed a debt of
gratitude. All of the members of SIN and thousands of engaged residents were
simply ordinary Troy citizens who stood-up for what they believed in and refused to
be ignored. By that act of courage and resolve, these ordinary citizens
demonstrated extraordinary commitment to participating in the positive growth and
development of Troy.

Once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. President Reagan
often said to others to have faith in the American people because they know what is
best rather than the politicians and bureaucrats. The citizens of Troy have
demonstrated that our faith in the people of Troy to respond and oppose this project
and do what was right was not misplaced. It is uplifting to know that the City of Troy
is in good hands when the people of Troy are represented and heard. Thank you
and may God Bless you.

Sincerely,
David R. Krall
Vice President & Corporate Counsel
White Chapel Memorial Association