PEACE IN THE VALLEY OF PALMER

It is a beautiful day in The Valley of Palmer, the sun has just finished pushing the moon over the edge of the earth to take its' rightful place in the blueness of the sky. The snow white clouds, that make one think of giant marshmallows, appear to be playing tag as they sail across the sky. The trees, their limb barren of cover, reaching toward the sky like. fingers pointing for all to see. Only the pines with their green covered limbs appears to be hiding something or are they laughing at their fellow neighbors, who do not sport their colors all winter long like they do.

Ah... such a peaceful and beautiful valley one would have to have been born and raised in this tiny valley to understand the ferociousness with which one defends the history and land that to the day they die will be theirs. The land that their forefathers crawled and walked on from birth to death, scraped and scratched a living for their families from and were then laid to rest in; either in the hillside cemetery or like many before them along the old wagon trails that meander throughout the hills and valleys of Palmer.

The descendants from those forefathers, that were blessed to have been born or spent part of their lives in Palmer, have in their genes, the fighting spirit to protect what they believe in. You, the outsider, can make all the remarks you want and chide them for what they do and believe in, but you will not, even in loss, make them less than what they were taught to be.

You can not blame the descendants for wanting the best for the area and for the people who live in and around to want respect for their property. They are not so ignorant that They would refuse people the right to enjoy the country, but when they have the evidence of what can happen when an area is over ran with people, (not everyone is the same, but can anyone account for what everybody is doing that belongs to any group) you cannot blame them for how they feel.

The ideology of these people comes from a taught and self-taught education. There is so much area out there that people should have no problem in laying out a trail that would benefit both parties. It does not have to be by The Palmer Church, The African American Cemetery, or The Palmer Cemetery. There are plenty of tiff cuts that could provide any group the chills and thrills that they seek. Who would notice a few more ruts, ditches and mud pockets in that area? Sorry that is logical thinking. No one would be disturbed.

The Sounds from the rebuilding of The Church have ceased. The scars from the burning of the (original Church of 1842), by outsiders, have been covered from the eyes but not the heart: by a smaller, yet just as beautiful, a mirror image of the one before. The standing symbol of the teachings of their forefathers that you stand up and fight for what is yours and what you believe in.

Palmer bears the scars of a war that gave man the freedom he deserved, much like the war that the Americans fought with England, for no man should be a slave to another or to a group regardless of race or creed. Therefore, it was a war or challenge for the people of Palmer when they went up against the United State Forest Service. A battle in which they lost so much but gained the truth and what was theirs all along. They saw their forefathers Church burned to the ground, there outside outhouse riddled with bullet holes (someone out just enjoying the countryside). This was all gained back from the USFS, who had a man stand guard over the digging of the hole for the tank for that outside outhouse, scared that some artifact would be disturbed, how unfair to a group of people who were at that time fighting to save a building that was from 1842, built by their own family members, who better to know how to save their own heritage than those descendants. Yet these same people (USFS) have decided to let trails be built all over this Valley that will more than disturb their artifacts. Kind of two faced as the old timers of the Valley would say.

To the person, who made the remark on the Forum, about being careful what you gripe about, here is the quote, ("If there is a forest road leading to your friends property, it will remain open to the public or it will be closed to everyone including your friend (at least the section on forest property). So there is no issue of proposal that would even include this road, quite simply put. But beware, the forest service has landlocked other private land owners in the past and closed their roads so be careful how loud you gripe on this issue. It's easier for the FS to de-commission a road than it is to deal with trespass issues.") Is that a promise against the people who are just asking for what is rightfully theirs to ask for, respect? That if they don't lie down, roll over and play dead that the USFS will close their roads to their homes for spite????????? You claim to be so knowledgable, would you want your heritage destroyed? That is what it is all about, preserving the heritage not just for the descendants, but for future generation to come. It is not about taking away from anyone. Not everyone is like the person or persons, who took such pride in shooting holes in the outside outhouse by the Church, no one person can speak for everyone or stand guard to see that all is done right. Rules have to be made and set in stone and adhered to (maybe that is not a good comparison as the 10 Commandments were written on stone and they are broken everyday) but not everyone believes that way and that is why people have to speak out and express their concerns. And that is what is so wonderful about this great America of ours is that even you can speak your mind and still be wrong or right.

As for the comment that people who do not give their names can't give levity to what they say, you all are so wrong. For anyone who reads there are many quotes written in books, magazines and letters that are signed, " Author Unknown," that people quote and live by. Think about that. (Another great American right)

For all of you who think that the descendants of Palmer are just a radical group of people, who do not understand anything, why don't you bring your families and friends and a basket lunch to The Palmer Homecoming, June 13, 2004 and listen and learn while you enjoy the peacefulness of the valley. You will be welcomed.

I thought that my valley would have peace once The Church was built, and that I would not have to write again, but the Pen is mightier than the Sword. As it seems there is more unrest for the little Valley of Palmer, what better cause than to come forth and speak for fairness and for people to sit back and think and to look at the whole picture, you can erase something and try to duplicate it but it will never be the real thing, because what you do today, you may not be able to undo tomorrow.

The Palmer Ghost