The Bedford Bulletin, Bedford, Va., December 28, 2005
LETTERS

Commit to honor and protect

As we come toward the end of the year, the beginning of a new one and throughout our own journeys: (A) let every day be one of thanksgiving; (B) let us never lose sight of the value of family, those gone and those remaining; and (C) let us not forget that we need be perpetually, humbly grateful for that which our earth provides us to sustain us through our life’s journey and be as good to and give reverent honors to mother earth, as such as that goodness of sustenance which has been given to us.
In our hearts, may we hum and reflect upon “My Country ‘Tis of Thee… Sweet land of Liberty. . .” Liberty and freedom is given, by this land, to us to harmoniously survive open. Liberty/freedom is not only a freedom from tyranny via oppressive governments that only a freedom from other related control mechanisms of human religion and societal inventions. Freedom is found in the joy of the bountiful harvester – our lands, air and waters to sustain us, and show us nature’s myriad of beauties, as well as our own freedom to learn to honor, protect and preserve not only family and decades long proven friends, by to be good and wise stewards of our heritage, and our earth and all being, thereof.
‘Twas only four lifetimes ago when the Pilgrims ate their first Thanksgiving with Native Americans and three long lifetimes ago that Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, Adams, etc. were here, and this land of ours was pristine and pure. Since then humans have exploited, raped, pillaged, polluted and ruined much of it.
Northern Virginia, Richmond, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Lynchburg and Forest, right around us, are not only ugly but ecologically damaged and places where no one sane wished to venture. In addition, the prohibitive costs of infrastructures in massive populations, is a vicious cycle which continually gets higher and over burdens “ The People’s” taxes so they can barely survive.
Last year in Bedford County, each residence cost $1.07 of every tax dollar collected, and small businesses cost 40 cents, while farms and open spaces cost 25 cents. The small merchants, farmers and other open spaces pay for more development.
A huge development was approved for Moneta a couple months ago, and yet another huge development has been approved by some greedy people to further pollute the water and air, congest the traffic and destroy the Forest area, and cause all of you citizens, “The People” to have heavier taxation burdens. That will be especially hurtful to the farms and small business people. All of this must be stopped, now before greedy, callous people ruin all of that sustenance and beauty which nature has bestowed upon us.
We “The Citizens – The People” of Bedford County must stand up firmly and soundly and tell the county administrator, Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission that we do not want this destruction. We need to protect and preserve the small water resources that we have and not further pollute the tributaries with human waste.
We need, also, to protect and preserve our air and beauty around us and more, our heritage – our future’s heritage.
Or is it that you don’t care about the destruction and inability to survive, that you might leave for your grandchildren and great, great, great grandchildren? Whether your ancestors came from this region or not, they came from somewhere, where humans once had beauty and bountiful water, pure air and where they could glean from the earth a harvest of sustenance for family and others in need.
Wherever your ancestors are from, this is the heritage that was in their hearts and which they left unto you, and this is the heritage that nature, this beautiful, precious land provides us all. Our heritage and that of the future is not one of materialism, superficially and land of ugliness, water pollution, lack of water to drink and raise crops lack of ability for any life to survive.
Citizens of Bedford County, tell your supervisors, as well as state Delegate Mr. Lacey Putney that you want Bedford, and the state to plan P.D.R. programs to assist in Preserving what we have – farms, small community and beauty. Our heritage and our futures demand a moratorium on development, also.
Also, contact: Bedford Citizens for Land Preservation, P.O. Box 86, Bedford, Va. 24523, 586-5610; as well as Western Virginia Land Trust, 722 First St., S.W., Suite 2, Roanoke, Va. 24016 (540) 985-0000. These kind people will be glad to help you in working on conservation easements.
All these can help you to protect, preserve and lower your taxation structures.

Samuel Edmund Coffey
Moneta