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Memorial Day
Memorial Day began in 1868 as the country was recovering from the Civil War. General John A. Logan, Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, designated May 30 as a day to decorate the graves of soldiers who died in the conflict. Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday eventually became a day to honor the memory of all war dead.
Today Memorial Day is known for its festivities and fun, a three-day holiday marking the beginning of the summer season.
There is nothing wrong with that. But we hope that sometime during the long weekend every person will take a few moments to reflect on the true meaning and spirit of this day.
Is Our County Safe?
When we hear about oil spills, industrial pollution and other disasters that seem endemic to urban areas, it’s hard not to feel smug about Rappahannock County. After all, we live in pristine, unspoiled natural beauty. Things like that don’t happen here.
Well, things like that have been happening here. First there was the barrel dump that turned a verdant foest into a repository for chemical waste. Then came the toxic fumes at the elementary school that sent 39 of our children to the hospital.
These two unfortunate happenings, especially the events at the elementary school, have caused inner pain, anguish, and suffering. This inner hurts will take much longer to heal than any actual physical damage.
And all of us, whether we are directly involved or not, are left with vague feelings of uneasiness and anxiety. Is Rappahannock County no longer a safe place? Is this the start of a slow decline that will turn us into just another D. C. suburb?
We think not.
Both incidents are isolated happenings. Each was the work of one or two individuals: a reputed careless working condition in one case, and an alleged criminal act in the other. It is unfortunate that they occurred. It is unlikely that this is the beginning of a trend.
Accidents can and do happen. Some can be prevented, and some cannot. Often there is little anyone else can do to prevent another from acting in a reckless or criminal manner. The events of the past few weeks are not harbingers of future disasters.
Let us be ever vigilant to prevent future mishaps. But let us not view the recent happenings as the end of the Rappahannock way of life.
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