Manassas Park Community Matters Blog Post - All About Manassas Park – By Michele Quander-Collins

Hey everyone! I’m Michele Quander-Collins, the new Communications Specialist at the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

Over the years, I’ve worked for a number of cities and counties, and I’ve always been most interested in the local government history.  And, as I learn more and more about Manassas Park – The Early Days, I’ll share the information through these blogs.  And, with Manassas Park –Today, I will also offer a look at the ongoing efforts to make this city an exceptional community.

I hope that you enjoy my blogs and find this information as interesting as I do. My first blog is going to be about Veterans Day.

The City of Manassas Park’s City Clerk, Lana Conner, has been with the City since the days when it was only a town.  Lately, I’ve been spending time looking through her collection of old newspaper clippings about Manassas Park, and I found a 1969 Letter-to-the Editor that I thought would be good to share on Veterans Day 2013.

Headlined “Public Asked to Join Veterans Day Ceremony,” and written by Town Councilman and Veterans Day Committee Chairman John Alverez , the letter reads…

To the Editor:

            Down through the years, men have fought and died for causes they believed in, striving to make their country a safer place because of their bravery.

            Yesterday it was World War II and Korea.  Today it is Vietnam.  Tomorrow we pray it will be peace.

            The war is constantly on our minds; we hear and read of protests and anti-protests, and we note the efforts of our President to bring peace.

            While we detest the horrors of war and the losses of our young men, let us not forget their trials and sacrifices.  We pay tribute to these men on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11 (1969).

The article ended with an announcement about Veterans Day ceremonies starting at 2 p.m. at the Manassas Park Recreation area which included the dedication of a new flag pole and flag.  The flag, a gift from Virginia Congressman William L. Scott, had recently flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

I remember the Vietnam War days.  And, I regret that Mr. Alverez’s hoped-for aftermath of peace was short-lived.

Michele Quander-Collins is the Communications Specialist for the Manassas Park Parks and Recreation Department. She can be reached at 703.335.8872  or via email at m.quander-collins@manassasparkva.gov

Community Matters is a blog created by the City of Manassas Park Department of Parks and Recreation. The blog features program updates, announcements of new services, special event notices, or information of general interest.