A Last Salute to Our Hallowed Ground 

1858 Survey

Unknown author

Sadly... both the Centreville fortifications and the Ox Hill battlefield have been developed into a mix of townhouses, office buildings and strip malls. What is troubling, is that the local character and national heritage represented by these historic sites, was considered less important than building yet another high density development. Especially in an area that is already overwhelmed with too much traffic.

Where do we go when we need to reflect on who we are... or to be inspired when life's troubles are overwhelming? Certainly not a strip mall. The next time someone asks why our children have no values, I would have to answer in part,   "that we have taken away their heritage... their roots... a way to measure themselves".

I know many blame our government officials and they are partially right in doing so. Yes, our government should guard our heritage, but "we the people" are the government and we must actively maintain our heritage through education and resolve.

Developers should not have been allowed to build on land that is nationally significant, especially historic sites that are the final resting place of our war dead. Unless communities make a real effort to support preservation efforts now, the history that defines who we are as a people, will continue to disappear at an alarming rate.