Columns and Editorials

On Sunday morning, our nation will pause to remember and reflect upon the tragedy known primarily by its date: 9/11.

Those of us old enough to remember that Tuesday in 2001 will never forget where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news.  It had the same impact as such other pivotal moments in history, from the attack on Pearl Harbor and President Kennedy’s assassination to Neil Armstrong’s walking on the moon.

At their core, the major American holidays are bound by a common thread: They remind us of who we are and what we stand for, each and every year.

While the Fourth of July celebrates our founding and freedom, Memorial Day and Veterans Day call on us never to forget the high price paid for those enduring gifts.  Thanksgiving gives us a moment among loved ones to appreciate the many good things in our lives, and on Labor Day, which arrives this weekend, we pay tribute to the hard work that made our nation what it is today.

Before the mid-1970s, special education in our country’s public schools was all but non-existent. Many students were either outright denied the opportunity to attend because of their disability, or they received inferior instruction if they were able to enroll.

That, thankfully, began to change in 1975, when Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and required each state to provide appropriate services in this critical area.

Even as tobacco has declined, agriculture still seems to be a major area of growth for Henry County and its economy.

The afterglow of the Henry County Fair and all the hustle and bustle behind the recent Harvest Showcase probably contributed to this impression, but it seems like most of the favorable attention the county receives stems from agriculturally related topics and products.