The Butler County World War II Memorial in Diamond Park ought to be a unanimous source of pride. It should not be a source of festering controversy like it has become over recognition of the Merchant Marines.

The latest development in the years-long dispute has the potential to finally put the mariner issue to rest, if everyone agrees with the process for dispute resolution that was proposed Dec. 31. The committee that was in charge of designing and erecting the memorial should agree to that process, now that area mariner representatives and county officials, including commissioners chairman Dale Pinkerton, have voiced support for it.

The suggestion, which has been offered by Butler lawyer Larry Rodgers, who donates time to represent a group of Butler County mariners, would involve independent mediation, with all involved in the dispute agreeing to abide by whatever the mediator decides.

The mariners contend that the Merchant Marines merit a plaque on the front of the memorial because of their efforts, performed under perilous circumstances, that were crucial to the United States winning the war.

The memorial committee has continued to maintain that the mariners already are recognized appropriately as part of a nearly 30-name list of military-related services on the back of the memorial, and as part of the U.S. Coast Guard recognition, although the name "Merchant Marine" is not visibly attached to that Coast Guard recognition.

The mariners reject the notion that the Coast Guard recognition includes them, and they have rejected offers of a separate memorial.

At the county commissioners' Dec. 31 meeting, at which Rodgers put forth his idea, the question wasn't addressed as to what would happen to the mariners' current recognition on the back of the memorial if a mediator were to rule in the mariners' favor.

Doing nothing to the plaque at the back of the memorial would result in the mariners having recognition twice on the same memorial. Meanwhile, who would shoulder the financial burden of replacing that plaque with a new one that doesn't include the mariners, should recognition on the front of the memorial be the mediator's decision?

And, most importantly, who would pay for a mariners plaque on the front of the memorial, if the mariners were victorious in the mediation process?

The lengthy and bitter mariner-recognition debate has dampened the enthusiasm and pride that should encompass what is an impressive memorial situated among others from other wars that depict this county's — and nation's — patriotism. It is long overdue for the mariner controversy to be put to rest.

Bringing in a mediator won't result in everyone being happy. All involved have to understand that.

However, with everyone in agreement going in to the process that they would abide by the mediator's decision, the issue can be brought to a close, once and for all.

The memorial committee shouldn't stand in the way of mediation, despite firmly believing that the recognition already given the nation's World War II mariners is proper and fair.