If you have anything at all to do outside, now is the time to do it. Work or play, it doesn’t matter, just make your plans to get out there and do it. Now, I know the forecast for the next few days looks a little rainy, but later in the week should be some of the most spectacular weather of the season. The humidity is low, the blues of the sky and the early orange and rust reds of the trees are strikingly vivid, and the temperatures are ideal. In my opinion, Fall is by far the best time of the year. I don’t know if this is officially Indian Summer, but it feels like it should be. I googled it trying to find an answer, and all I got was the American Meteorological Association telling me not to use that term because it is disrespectful to Native Americans. Really? Why would Indians not like that? Indian Summer is a perfectly natural expression. It speaks of folklore and the reverence, beauty, and wonder of nature. But, if I have offended anyone out there, I’m sorry. Now, back to Fall. There are some really beautiful areas of our community when the leaves reach their full Fall glory. One spot is Pine Brook Park which is now called Veterans and First Responders Park. The “Veterans at the Library” group has become the unofficial “Old Guard” of the park and has done a wonderful job upgrading and helping the Recreation Department in maintaining the area. For years, that spot was nothing more than a swampy branch. The land was donated to the City, and former City Administrator Al Lawson applied for grants to establish a city park there. After much work and enhancement by the city and many supporters, the spot was dedicated in 2011 as a memorial to the men and women of Emanuel County who have served our nation in uniform.
The Veterans at the Library group is well known in the community for its adoption of the Wreaths Across America project in 2022, and they are well into planning the second year of that very successful undertaking. More than 1,200 wreaths were purchased for placement at veteran burial sites throughout Emanuel County in the first year, and it is expected that the project will grow even larger this year. Most recently, however, the Veterans group enlisted to further the scope and mission of the park. Numerous ceremonies have been held there by the group within the last year including the placement of fourteen U.S. flags along the fence line of the park. The flags honor the thirteen U.S. service members who were lost in the final days of the Afghanistan withdrawal and separately, one service member who died at the Southern Border in the immigration crisis. It is very moving to ride by this tribute and see the fourteen American flags in front of the park representing the sacrifice of these patriots. Not only is it fulfilling a pledge every day that these “fallen” will not be forgotten, but it also reminds everyone who passes by of the blessings of Liberty that we all enjoy each and every day in this country. We are fortunate to have this public park in our community, and I encourage you to stop by and spend a moment in memory of all those honored there. It’s a good reason to get out on a glorious Fall Day.
