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The
crowds have gone and July 4, 2009 is another "fond" memory for
those who were fortunate enough to spend time in Alderson over the
4th. The 4th Committee under the leadership of Mark Ballard and a
ton of committed volunteers did a great job and from all accounts
everyone had a great time. For those of you who were unable to
attend I would encourage you to think of coming "home" for a few
days over the 4th if you really want a lot of activity, but during
any other period of the year if you would simply like to "unwind."
It is now the 21st of July and I would like to report on the
activities at the gazebo on July 3, 2009. Alderson has a brand new
flag, and we had a very impressive ceremony for the flag raising
of the town flag, and raising the "Stars and Stripes" as provided
to us by Congressman Rahall. That flag flew over the U. S. Capital
on June 15, 2009 and after the ceremony it was removed and will be
on permanent display in the depot.
I was privileged to have a small role in the ceremony and there
were two events that made a great impression on me. The first was
to watch several people walk up to the "community walk" where we
have just installed the second order of bricks and look for their
"brick." There are not only individual bricks emblazoned with
class year and names, but there are "memorial bricks" installed in
memory of a "loved one." I was moved when I witnessed more than
one person taking out a camera and capturing a photo of a brick,
and seeing a brother and sister quietly look at their brick
inscribed with the name of their parent or other loved one. This
project started out as part of a "fund raising" event for Main
Street; however the results have been much deeper and more
meaningful as it has unfolded.
The second event that is especially gratifying is that we actually
presented the first scholarship award to a Greenbrier East senior
whose plan is to attend college. Although this scholarship was
very modest it was a beginning. The recipient was Josh Whitt. Josh
is an outstanding young man, and is the incoming President of the
Greenbrier East Student Body. Josh is an Honor Student, an active
participant in the JROTC at East, and is in all respects an
outstanding young man. His plan is to attend the U. S. Naval
Academy next year. Bill Simmons (Class of 1939) and Marjorie McVey
Lobban (Class of 1949) were the presenters of the scholarship
given this year in the names of Mr. H. Rodgers McVey and Miss
Stella Nelson. Incidentally Bill Simmons was the President of the
AHS Student Body in 1939 and the recipient holds the same post at
East some 70 years later.
We are trying to raise sufficient funds to establish a permanent
scholarship wherein the interest from the funds will provide the
scholarship every year. There is a foundation in Lewisburg that
manages funds such as this and the minimum amount that they
require for management is $10,000. The qualification for the
scholarship is that the student must be an entering Senior at
East, and live in the jurisdiction that was served by Alderson
High School when it was open as well as having an outstanding
academic record, and be college bound after the student's senior
year.
If you would like to make a contribution to this scholarship fund
please send your tax deductible donation to Alderson Main Street
and mark it "for scholarship fund."
During the 4th the Brick Sales were very good so at the present
time we are trying to get another order for bricks in to the
manufacturing agent before the end of October. If you would like
to buy a brick please send your check for $50.00 to Alderson Main
Street P. O. Box 117, Alderson WV 24910, along with 3 lines of
text (maximum of 18 characters per line).
See you in Alderson! |
