Memorial Day in Bristol

May 30, 2006

My father reports on Memorial Day in Bristol, Virginia, where a small group gathered at the Bristol War Memorial for an announced wreath-laying ceremony. Unfortunately, that ceremony never happened. It was apparently rescheduled.

As 11:00 neared, we looked for the mayor, vice-mayor, the VFW honor guard, or just anyone who looked like they were part of the memorial service. The WJHL guy with the microphone was suddenly on his cell phone, someone said “Call the mayor!” “The Mayor’s in Italy, he won’t be here!” “Who’s in charge of the city?” “It’s Memorial Day! Everything’s closed.” [ BristolCountry ]

There’s precious little community pride in Bristol. Civic events are practically state secrets. Dad thinks this is so the gatherings stay intimate affairs for the City Fathers; I suspect the Fathers can’t be bothered to move from their couches on holidays.

I hate to say it, but Bristol, Virginia often feels like a bedroom community in search of a greater metropolitan area; and as the city center moves further and further out into the Wal*Mart SuperPlaza at Exit 7, it’s going to be more and more difficult to make it seem like anything else.

Dramatic income disparity, poor education, racial and religious intolerance, and local governments who see their constituency less as those they represent and more as resources to be exploited have made many of our rural communities very sick places. In Bristol, it’s apparently become so sick the Fathers have decided they don’t even need to go through the motions any more.

And, unfortunately, they’re probably right.

Posted in Politics