Eighty years ago, while World War II was raging in Europe, the military carved 683 acres out of the state forest on the Vineyard to create the United States Naval Auxiliary Facility.

The tiny island that was used for decades as a bombing range will remain closed to the public as an unstaffed wildlife refuge, with minimal further efforts to remove unexploded munitions.

Once again there is pressure to spend millions of dollars to clean up Noman’s Land. And once again I say, leave it alone.

The United States Navy is set to open a public comment period on its proposed remedial action plan for Noman’s island— a 600-acre dot off the coast of Chilmark that was used as a naval gunnery range and aerial bombardment site for much of the 20th century.

The professional trumpet player, Edgartown resident and 30-year career U.S. Navy band member (now retired) is a ubiquitous presence at parades, weddings and every military funeral on the Vineyard.

The U.S. Navy announced this week that in September it will be clearing unexploded explosives on Noman’s Land, a small island off Chilmark.