Things to be Thankful for in 1997
Posted 11-18-1997
As a society, we Americans so often focus on what we don't have or how bad things are. But
with Thanksgiving here, I wanted to write about all the things we have right here in
Westmoreland County for which we should be thankful.
In a county with over one thousand square
miles, God has given us some of the most beautiful and useful natural resources. The
northern end of the county has the Allegheny and Kiskiminetas Rivers and the southern end
of the county has the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers. We also have other beautiful
waterways such as the Loyalhanna and Jacob's Creeks. The waterways serve not only
transportation and recreation purposes, but are also used for many economic purposes.
Westmoreland County also has beautiful lakes such as Keystone Lake and the county's lakes
at Northmoreland, Twin, and Mammoth Parks.
Some very beautiful hills, the Laurel
Mountains are along the eastern side of the county. The mountains contain state parks,
state game lands, and the Forbes State Forest. Countless recreational activities take
place in the Laurel Mountains and they bring visitors here throughout the year. We also
have beautiful and valuable farm land throughout our county that makes agriculture an
important economic activity.
Our small cities, boroughs, villages, and
our growing townships feature not only attractive residential and commercial structures,
but have allowed us to preserve a part of our rich history through the architecture that
has survived for hundreds of years. The communities that give Westmoreland County its
character are a fascinating melting pot of different ethnic, racial, and religious groups.
The fact that for the most part everyone has learned to peacefully and harmoniously live
together is something for which we really should be grateful.
While our county's economy has seen tough
times, recent years have seen a modest improvement. Though we may not be growing like
other regions of the country, there are reasons to be optimistic. The major investment
made by SONY and the partnership between SONY and Ashi-Corning are both important for our
county's image and its economic future. Not only have several thousand jobs been created
with hundreds more to follow, but the potential for supporting businesses will create even
more jobs. The fact that Kennametal has reinvested in our county by building their world
headquarters in Unity Township is significant not only for economic reasons, but because a
major employer returned from the sunbelt and chose Westmoreland County.
We should be thankful for all the
businesses large and small that provide opportunities for families to exist here. We
should be appreciative that people take risks to start businesses and hope even more
people take a chance on success. Employers should be thankful for the tremendous work
ethic of the people in Westmoreland County and I think that work ethic serves to explain a
large part of the reason companies like SONY and Kennametal chose to invest here.
I am thankful that Westmoreland County is
such a wonderful place to raise a family. The crime rate is low, the cost of living is
relatively low, and the environment is safe. This time of year brings back many wonderful
memories of my childhood here and I'm thankful that Westmoreland County is my home. While
I want to provide my children with more than I had, I am extremely grateful that much
still exists, that will allow me to provide them with the opportunities to experience many
of the things I experienced. Hopefully, everyone will briefly reflect during Thanksgiving
1997 on the many things that we do have for which we should be thankful. |
