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Vermont takes a stand on the Wilderness Wal-Mart Date published: 2/19/2009
SIX HUNDRED miles of highway The 1st Vermont suffered 1,200 casualties at the Wilderness, but managed to hold important ground for the Union while suffering the Green Mountain State's largest losses of the war. Though unnamed in the resolution, the "big-box store, likely to attract ancillary stores" mentioned is, of course, Wal-Mart. The Bentonville, Ark., behemoth would like to open a 139,000-square-foot "supercenter" on ground where soldiers died trying to win the Wilderness. Vermont is no stranger to pitched fights with Wal-Mart. The state didn't fall to the mammoth retailer until 1993--the last state to yield ground-- and it forced Wal-Mart to forgo big boxes in favor of smaller-scale stores. No one dismisses Orange County's need for revenue or Wal-Mart's right to grow. But must the store occupy historic ground? As the Vermont resolution says, "The story of the Battle of The Wilderness is one of valor for both armies that fought there." Now, will commerce recognize that and take a second seat? Battlefields can't be moved. Big boxes can.
Finally, an entity with the resources to purchase the property and preserve it as a battlefield. I am sure the citizens of Vermont will be happy to levy a tax so that they can purchase this property from the King Family. Otherwise, spend your time running your State.
I could not be happier that a state as far away as VT is letting
their voice be heard in this battle against Walmart! How could
anyone want to build over such historical ground?
to weigh on in what will happen to land where 1,200 of its
residents gave their lives for the cause. The state is simply
giving its opinion. And I think it should be taken to heart
that states and citizens outside the local community are
taking interest in this situation. These battlefields are
national treasures, not just local ones. The community is
entrusted with preserving and protecting these national
treasures.
Thank you Free Lance-Star for saying the most important words in this whole discussion, "Battlefields can't be moved. Big boxes can." There is plenty of room in Orange for the Walmart that is not on historic ground. Why can't Walmart just move up the road so everyone wins?
if Canada would accept Vermont into their uniuon. Vermont is a meaningless, unimportant, out in left field joke.
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