To the Editor

For the last four years I have been a captain for the Park Decorations that take descendants across Fontana Lake to the cemeteries that they lost access to with the Agreement of 1943. Those who participate in this are wonderful people to be with, with the exception of those who take away from the experience by pushing their agendas about the road. It’s amazing that the ones who claim most heritage, the biggest proponents for the road, have dropped the ball for the last 66 years.

I’ve wanted to say this for some time now, but have refrained. Now, after reading “A Time For Healing” (Feb. 160Smoky Mountain News, www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/02_10/02_10_10/fr_swain_healing.html), I am glad to speak my mind. The people who promised family members on their deathbed to fight for the road — more specifically Linda Hogue and David Monteith — don’t realize how they are only hurting themselves and their descendants more than helping. I’ve seen both of them look at the Park and TVA and accuse everything that goes wrong a conspiracy to eventually get rid of decoration days. From TVA letting too much water out the dam to restrict cemetery access, to the Park Service purposely disabling Park vehicles so that the number of visitors to decorations are lessened. These are a few examples of what they see as government against them.

While they concentrate on the negative, they should realize their hearts are in the wrong place. If you look at the few cemeteries that have road access, you will see that they are some of the least known about. Paynetown across Fontana Dam is a great example. On that Decoration Day there isn’t nearly the turnout as the others. There is no food, camaraderie, singing, sermons, music or festivities. Is it because it’s not as fun since there is no boat ride? Or is it because family can go to it whenever they want? Either way, what makes this sad is the history is lost. That is why there is so little known about Paynetown.

I would wish that instead of concentrating on the negative, like Hogue now putting her time into trying to unseat the county commissioners who voted for the cash settlement, these blinded supporters would work on preserving their family heritage. A great example of two people who were/are for the road and put their energy into preserving the heritage is Bryan Aldridge (www.bkaldridge.com) and Judy Carpenter (www.proctorrevival.homestead.com). Their goal is to help people learn about those who gave so much for our national park, not debate over a road.

Now that the Road to Nowhere issue is over, I hope people can turn this into a positive issue and make the road ... the Road to Our Heritage ... or something with a much more positive perspective on our wonderful mountains.

(For comments or ideas on this piece visit www.jerryspan.com.)

Jerry Span

Graham County