We Remember: 9/11 Reflections

The images of September 11, 2001 are forever burned into our collective memory

The reports on every news station playing over and over

The planes striking the World Trade Center, first one, then the other

American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower at 8:46 a.m.

A tragic error? Nobody knew at first 

United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower at 9:03 a.m.

And then we knew -- this was no error

As our brains struggled to comprehend what was happening

American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.

Flames and smoke filled the Virginia air

As black smoke continued rising into the New York sky

Brave firefighters and police officers rushed into the burning buildings

On a day filled with unthinkables, the South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m.

As panic filled the air in New York and Arlington

A struggle for life was taking place in the sky

As passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 fought back

Against the terrorist hijackers who'd taken control of their plane

Todd Beamer uttered the words, "Are you guys ready? Let's Roll!"

An American hero whose actions may have saved many lives

As they fought for their own lives

Flight 93 crashed to the ground near Shanksville, Pa. at 10:03 a.m.

 Amid thick smoke and chaos, the North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m.

Taking the lives of public heroes and unknown Americans  

And America watched, knowing life would never be the same

But the American spirit is strong

The American flag became our symbol

Raised above the rubble of the World Trade Center

Raised above the Pentagon 

Raised above the hallowed ground in Pennsylvania

Raised above homes across America

The symbol of our freedom and endurance

Hope for the future, strength to move forward

Hands held, voices raised in prayer

"Never Forget," we whispered to ourselves

"Never Forget," we prayed together

"Never Forget," became America's battle cry

As our lives were forever divided

Into before ... and after 9/11/01

15 Reasons to Attend the Uncle Billy's Day Festival

If you haven't been around the Lynchburg area for very long, you may not know about the Uncle Billy's Day Festival. Held on the first Saturday (and preceding Friday) in June each year in the small town of Altavista, Uncle Billy's Day draws crowds from far and near. Whether you're a newcomer or have lived in the area all of your life, here's 15 reasons to attend the Uncle Billy's Day Festival.

It's FREE! You'll probably have to park wherever you can find a spot, but there are free bus rides -- or you can walk -- to English Park, where most of the festivities will be held. The Trade Lot will be held at the War Memorial Park on 7th Street. Festival hours are Friday, June 5 from 4-11 p.m. and Saturday, June 6 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. The carnival begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday. No dogs, coolers or backpacks are permitted. You'll find full details including calendar of events at www.UncleBillysDay.com

It's family-friendly. Bring your kids, your spouse, your grandparents or come alone. Bring a chair and umbrella if you want, but no coolers or backpacks are allowed. Uncle Billy's Day offers good old fashioned fun at its finest.

There's funnel cake! Maybe it's just me, but there's nothing that marks a great summer festival better than funnel cake. Enjoy your funnel cake plain, add powdered sugar or load it up with fruit. YUM!

There's plenty of food. Whether you're feeding yourself or the entire family, you'll find something for everyone. The food trucks and stands beckon from the time you walk into English Park.

There's a really cool walkway. If you park downtown, you get to use the walkway to get to English Park. From high above the Uncle Billy's Day festivities, you can see everything. 

There are wild carnival rides for thrill-seekers of all ages. This ride is called Roll-O-Plane and it spins and turns as it speeds toward the ground. Hold on tight!

There are fun carnival rides for the little ones too.

You'll find a variety of bounce houses and carnival games.

There's even a carousel perfect for all ages to enjoy.

At some festivals, there's not much for the men to enjoy. The car show at Uncle Billy's Day is fun for men, women and children. Check out this really cool looking car.

The craft show is one of the area's biggest, attracting local vendors and crafters from out-of-state. Start your holiday shopping with unique gift items for everyone on your list.

English Park is located on the banks of the Staunton River. The views are great and there's even shade under the trees.

Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy live music on Friday from 5:30-11 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. There's a schedule of entertainment at the website.

There will be fireworks after dark on Saturday night -- starting at approximately 9:30 p.m. You can see the fireworks best from English Park.

How can you go wrong with an event that's celebrating 66 years! Come on out to Uncle Billy's Day this weekend. Hit the Altavista exit and follow the traffic. You'll have a blast!

Running for Meg

In Lynchburg, across the country and around the world, runners gathered on Saturday morning, January 18, 2014 to pay tribute to Meg Cross Menzies.

Most of those running or walking #megsmiles in memory of Meg have never met her, but her story could be the story of any runner anywhere.

Runners love early morning runs. Most of us have busy lives and a run starts the day off right. Meg died on her last morning run, with her loving husband at her side.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the music on the radio on this cold, blustery Saturday morning reflected Meg's life. When I got into my car, "Let All Things Now Living" was playing.

Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the creator triumphantly raise.
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
God's banners are o'er us, His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished
As forward we travel from light into light.

His law he enforces, the stars in their courses
And sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine.
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration a Song let us raise
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving:
"To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!"

For Meg lived her life as God chose, following His word, praising His name, worshipping Him and raising her children to know and love Him.

Our group of runners and walkers numbered just under 50 people, including a baby riding in a stroller and a baby riding inside a mom-to-be.

We were all drawn to the story of the young mom who put her kids on the bus and took off with her husband on an early morning training run on Monday, January 13.

Meg had no way to know the run would be her last as she was called to her eternal home after being struck by a car.

But God knew. God's timeline doesn't always match our desires. Although Meg's family and friends wanted her to stay, God called her home.

Most of our group were runners, members of the Lynchburg Road Runners Club. A few of us were walkers for one reason or another. All of us gave at least two miles to #megsmiles on a Saturday morning when it would have been easy to stay inside where it was warm. Why? Because we were called - called to run or walk, called to share Meg's story, called to be part of God's bigger plan.

When I got into my car after walking two miles, "Faithful to Me" was on the radio.

You have told me, Lord what pleases You
To act justly and love mercy and walk humbly too
I'm reminded of the things
You've always said were in Your heart
I know that I have yet to go that far

I want to live my life in glory to You, Lord
That each and every day I'll love You more
I pray I'll die for You, the one that I adore
That someday I may hear the words I hold so dear
"Well done, my child, you have believed
You have been faithful to me"

There are words of truth You long to say
There is healing that may never come unless I pray
There are works of love and courage
That Lord only You can do
I'm willing, oh I yearn to be like You 

I want to live my life in glory to You, Lord
That each and every day I'll love You more
I pray I'll die for You, the One that I adore
That someday I may hear the words I hold so dear
"Well done, my child, you have believed
You have been faithful to me" 

I know that one day I will look at You
And I long to see the pleasure in Your eyes

I pray I'll die for You the one that I adore
That someday I may hear the words I hold so dear
"Well done, my child, you have believed
You have been faithful to me"
You have been faithful to me" 

Rest in peace, Meg Cross Menzies. You have been a good and faithful servant to your God, your family and your friends.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Winter Arrives in Lynchburg

The pace of life in Lynchburg slows down in the winter.

Outdoor activities are fewer as many families move indoors for the winter.

Gone are the busy days of December, filled with shopping, baking, parties and all sorts of holiday activities.

High school football and fall baseball are over for the season, replaced by basketball, wrestling and theater.

The local hiking and biking trails have emptied of all but the most diehard runners and cyclists.

The baked treats of the holidays mean the local fitness centers and gyms are filled with people of all ages, hoping to get in shape before summer arrives.

The trees have lost their leaves and the cold winds of winter are blowing.

Winter looms ahead with its short days and long, cold nights.

Unlike some colder climates, winter isn't filled with ice and snow in Lynchburg.

Although there will be some snow, sleet and ice before winter ends, most winter weather events don't last for too long.

Area schools may be delayed for an hour or two and there may even be a few snow days.

On some snowy days, the roads are warm enough that snow sticks only to the ground and trees, leaving the sidewalks and roads clear.

Families enjoy board games and Friday night pizza during winter around here.

Couples enjoy movies at home instead of busy evenings on the town.

Younger kids have moved indoors too, spending fun-filled days at Kids Cove or Amazement Square instead of playing in the backyard.

Winter in Lynchburg is a welcome change from life in the fast lane. Winter reminds us that life in the slow lane is okay too.

But, winter won't be quite as we generally experience it in over the next few days in Lynchburg.

A weather event known as a polar vortex is heading to the East Coast.

Temperatures will drop from just above freezing on Sunday night down into the 20s during the day on Monday.

Overnight lows on Monday will be in the single digits. It won't get much warmer on Tuesday.

Tuesday's high temperature will be around 20 degrees with an overnight low in the single digits again.

The wind chill index is predicted to be at 25-35 degrees below zero for both days. Dangerously cold is how the coming weather is described in the news.

Stay indoors if you can. If you have to go out, dress in layers and bundle up. Exposed skin can freeze in minutes when it's this cold.

Bring in the pets, crank up the heat and check on your elderly neighbors.

The grocery stores have been packed with people all weekend. Hopefully you were there stocking up on everything you need.

Wait for another day for the walk on the trails or day at the park. Better safe than sorry.

Soon enough, warmer weather will return to Lynchburg.

Every year, January offers a few sunny days with temperatures in the 50s and 60s.

Plan ahead for those spring-like days and take advantage of them.

But for now, bundle up and get ready. Winter is on the way to Central Virginia. Are you ready?

Have You Seen The Ant Car?

One of the things I enjoy the most on a sunny afternoon is wandering around Lynchburg looking for suitable objects to photograph.

I first saw the Ant Car at Get!Downtown this year. It was pretty dark and I was disappointed at how my photo of the car turned out.

The Ant Car was created by David Schwartz, a philosophy professor at Randolph College.

Schwartz had been a spectator at the Houston art car parade in the 1990s while attending Rice University. After discussing the idea of a bug car with some of his students, Schwartz took the plunge.

Work began on the Ant Car in 2004 and the car was completed in 2005, with help from some of Schwartz' Philosophy of Art students. Schwartz entered the Ant Car in the Houston art car parade in 2005, where the car was awarded third in show.

One early fall afternoon, I stopped to wander through the Dorothy Bliss Botanical Garden at Randolph College. The garden is a haven of beauty just off Rivermont Avenue.

After I parked my car on a side street, I noticed the Ant Car parked in a nearby parking lot.

I didn't get the opportunity to look at the detail on the car at Get!Downtown but I spent about 10 minutes taking photos in the parking lot.

According to Schwartz' website, the Ant Car is covered with ants made of steel, grass made of tin and leaves and vines made of roofing copper.

The ant mound on top of the car was made from Bondo.

It's amazing that the many artifacts on the Ant Car have remained attached for nearly 10 years, despite the car being driven at highway speeds.

Many of the ants carry objects in their mouths including a mouse and an oversized twig.

There are also ants carrying a bumblebee and even the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower.

The Ant Car is an amazing work of art, paying tribute to the lowly ant.

On his website, Schwartz shares many facts about ants.

The life expectancy of ants is only 45 to 60 days; however, ants accomplish a lot in their short time on earth.

Ants can lift 20 times their own body weight. Although an ant couldn't really carry the Eiffel Tower, the ant in the photo does a pretty good job holding this statue in its mouth.

The Eiffel Tower ant is probably my favorite piece of work on the Ant Car.

As a child, I lived in France for a year while my Dad was stationed there.

In one of my memory boxes, I have a similar statue of the Eiffel Tower.

Upon closer examination, I discovered that there are also ants inside the Ant Car.

Ants scurry up and down the driver's seat. I'm not sure I could drive a car while sitting in a seat covered with ants.

The dashboard is covered a hodgepodge of butterflies, lizards and crabs. If you are unable to view the Ant Car closeup, visit the website.

At the Ant Car website, you can take a virtual tour of the car, learn more about the building of the car and see photos of the Ant Car at recent art festivals.

The Ant Car is a great work of art. If you have the opportunity to examine it more closely, be sure to take advantage.

Fall Festivals Define Central Virginia in October

If aliens from another planet descended on Central Virginia during the month of October, they would return to their planet with news of the Fall Festival, a way of life for locals.

October is the month of fall festivals in Central Virginia. Drive by any church and you'll likely see a sign for an upcoming fall festival.

From apple orchards, pumpkin patches and corn mazes to churches and historic sites, fall festivals draw big crowds.

Fall festivals offer mouthwatering festival foods including funnel cakes, fried Oreos, Gyro sandwiches and more. There are rides and bounce houses for the kids and live music of every type is playing.

The Lynchburg Macaroni Kid website lists more than 45 events for the weekend of Oct. 4-6, about half of them festivals. Pick up a copy of The Burg and you'll find even more festivals, including about a half dozen at local churches.

How do you do fall festivals? Clearly, you can't make it to all of them. Do you pick one and spend the day or hop from festival to festival, enjoying a little here and a little there?

Here are some fall festivals to visit this weekend. Take your pick or be a festival hopper and enjoy time at many festivals.

Festival Fun
These festivals are all suitable for the entire family. Pick one or enjoy a few. If city is not noted, they are in Lynchburg.

• Clifford Ruritan Sorghum Festival, 755 Fletchers Level Road, Clifford will be held Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday features the Virginia Jousting Tournament at noon. Live music, crafts, Brunswick Stew, kids' activities, apple butter and sorghum syrup making both days.
• Snowflex Fall Festival, Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre, Candlers Mountain Road will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bring four canned goods for an hour's free admission.
• Fall Festival and Fundraiser at New London, 594 Alum Springs Road, (Former Mead's Tavern in New London) will be held Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Live music, antique cars, period reenactors, crafts and baked goods are featured.
• 16th Annual Day at the Point, Point of Honor, 112 Cabell Street will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Living history, food, children's games, crafts, live music and free tours of Point of Honor are featured.
• The Charlie Parker Memorial Harvest Festival, Big Otter Mill, 3533 Big Island Hwy, Bedford (Route 122) will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy crafts, food, demonstrations, live music and tours of the mill.

Church Festivals
There are probably many more taking place, but here are some area favorites.

• Mead Memorial United Methodist Church Fall Festival, 13317 Wards Road will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Timberlake United Methodist Church Fall Bazaar, 21649 Timberlake Road will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Court Street United Methodist Church Brunswick Stew and Bake Sale, 621 Court Street will be held Saturday from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• First Baptist Church South Lynchburg Fall Festival, 2500 Tazewell Avenue will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Falling River Baptist Church Fall Festival, 2874 Wickliffe Road, Brookneal will be held Sunday from 4-8 p.m.

Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Patches
Some of these events take place every weekend this month. Some locations are open daily.

• Auburnlea Farms Fall Family Festival Weekend, 5500 Mollies Creek Road, Gladys is held on Fridays and Saturday during October. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with special night hours from 6-10 p.m.
• Smith's Pumpkin Patch, 6204 Fort Avenue, open daily through Oct. 31. Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
• Yoders' Farm Fall Family Fun Day, 1134 Browns Mill Road, Rustburg is open Thursday through Saturday all month. Thursday from 2-7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fall Family Fun Day offers extra activities this Saturday.
• Ravenelle Corn Maze at Russell Farms, Thomas Jefferson Road, Forest opens this weekend. Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1-6 p.m. all month.

Apples and More
Although not all apple orchards hold fall festivals, most are open daily during fall for pick-your-own apples or buying pre-picked apples.

• Silver Creek and Seamans' Orchard Apple Butter Festival, 5529 Crabtree Falls Highway, Tyro will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Festival also on Oct. 19, but open daily for apples.
• Morris Orchard, 226 Tobacco Row Lane, Monroe is open daily. Monday-Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.
• Drumheller's Orchard, behind Nelson County High School, Lovingston is open daily. Monday-Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m. Fall Festival will be held Oct. 19-20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Gross' Orchard in Bedford is open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fall Festival will be held Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Johnson's Orchard in Bedford is open daily from noon to 5 p.m. Apple picking fun and farm animals for petting are offered.

Fall is spelled F-U-N in Central Virginia so add some of these fun fall festivals to your family's schedule this month.

The Two Letters Dividing Lynchburg

If you've lived in Lynchburg for more than a week or two, you've probably noticed the giant LU letters on the top of the mountain high over the city.

The mountain is known as Candlers Mountain or Liberty Mountain, depending on who you ask.

The two letters, and what they represent, divide Lynchburg neatly in two. LU stands for Liberty University, the largest Christian University in the world.

According to their website, Liberty University was founded by Dr. Jerry Falwell in 1971 as a small Baptist college known as Lynchburg Baptist College.

As the college grew, the name changed to Liberty Baptist College in 1975. By 1985, the college had become a fully-accredited university and the name changed to Liberty University.

It almost seems as though the changes in the name reflect the divide felt by the citizens of the city whose name was once carried by the college.

On one side are the fans and supporters of Liberty University who feel that Liberty has created jobs and growth, contributing to the strength of the greater Lynchburg community.

On the other side are those who feel that the growth has brought with it a huge cost and that Lynchburg's people have carried the weight of Liberty's growth.

I stand somewhere in the middle. I agree that LU has created jobs and growth and contributed to the good of the community. I also agree that the growth hasn't been without cost. The traffic along Candlers Mountain Road can be insane at times and I try to avoid Wards Road as much as possible during the school year.

The college was young when I moved to Lynchburg in 1975. As someone who's been around for nearly as long as the college, it took me a long time to say, "Liberty University" when I was thinking "Liberty Baptist College."

I'm not a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church, the church at the foot of the mountain. I have attended numerous events at the university and the church, including my stepdaughter's graduation from LU and the wedding of my husband's nephew at TRBC, officiated by Jerry Falwell.

The uproar in Lynchburg when the mountain was changed by the LU monogram was immense. Anywhere you went, someone was talking about the letters.

The very idea that someone would have the audacity to remove trees from land they owned and replace them with a monogram was beyond the comprehension of many Lynchburg residents.

Almost like the Mona Lisa, the two giant letters seem to follow you wherever you go in Lynchburg. I've heard more than one person say, "I can't believe you can even see the letters from HERE!"

LU isn't the first university to put a monogram on a mountain. Lynchburg isn't the first small town to deal with the growing pains of an ever-expanding population of college kids.

Monograms on mountains is a more popular concept out west, as noted on the Deuce of Clubs website. In Arizona, it seems that putting monograms on mountains is a way of life. The first giant letter I ever saw on a mountain was the "Y" near Bringham Young University in Provo, Utah, seen on a cross-country trip in 1999.

I suspect that many of those who are the most upset by the LU letters are those who don't approve of the religious, conservative ideals on which the university was founded and which led to its growth.

On a recent day trip around town, I took a drive to the top of the mountain, planning to see the monogram up close. Instead, as I rounded the turn at the top of the mountain on foot, I caught a glimpse of eternity.

The vision before me was the cross, which I assume was erected by Falwell, standing high above the city of Lynchburg. A backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains and an endless blue sky stretched endlessly beyond the cross.

I can only imagine that this is where Falwell stood in 1971, wondering if he was making the right decision.

As he stood at the top of the mountain he loved, he must have been in awe at the beauty of the city below and the mountains beyond.

The simple wooden cross adds to the beauty of the mountaintop and creates a striking image that remains burned into your memory long after you return to lower ground.

I've returned to the top of Liberty Mountain many times since then. Each time, I walk first to where the cross stands to look down on the city I've embraced as my own.

From the cross, you can't see the monogram, even though the letters are just below. You can't see the monogram from the gazebo, built by Falwell.

According to a marker at the top of the mountain, the gazebo is is where Falwell sat with his son the day before his death, talking with the students of his university, students he'd grown to love as his own.

The next time you find yourself annoyed by the giant letters on the side of the mountain, take the time to drive up and see, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story."

Drive up Candlers Mountain, turn in at Snowflex and follow the gravel road to the monogram.

You'll have to walk the last bit of the way if you're not in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

But it's worth the walk. The views are incredible and may give you a little insight into the vision of Dr. Jerry Falwell so many years ago.

It's not surprising that every time I go to the top of the mountain, I find LU students. I asked one couple what attracted them to the top of the mountain.

Their answer was no surprise, because it's the same thing that attracts me. Peace, tranquility and beauty as far as the eye can see. Well done, good and faithful servant.