posted on July 22, 2002 07:05:52 AM new
Annie Snyder, a local woman, died Friday. She was a Marine, a Republican, a farmer, a thorn in the side of the most powerful developer in Northern Virginia, and a local heroine to many. Snyder showed the power one person can have in affecting change - or in her case bringing a halt to change which threatened to bury part of our national heritage. She took on Til Hazel in a fight over land near the Manassas Battlefield and sent Walt Disney Corp. packing. She lived her convictions.
posted on July 22, 2002 07:50:31 AM new
She really did make a difference.
I remember reading the stories about the Disney project, and being appalled at the commercialization of our history. If we can't respect our history enough to not sell it out, why should anyone else?
There was a former colonial era brothel in NJ that 7 11 bought and tore down to erect another drab store with parking lot. You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on July 22, 2002 08:21:44 AM new
Our local board of supervisors and many in the development community tried to paint her and her friends as elitists who lived on sprawling farms in Fauquier County, as people who "had theirs" and didn't want any development that would benefit the average Joe Blow. When I think of the development that would have resulted if Hazel or Disney had had their ways, I cringe. The sprawl and congestion are bad enough at present.
Too bad the brothel wasn't preserved. Much more interesting than another 7-11.
[ edited by saabsister on Jul 22, 2002 08:22 AM ]
posted on July 22, 2002 08:58:00 AM new
What a wonderful story. A woman who took action on her convictions.
side thought -
But that changed when Sen. Dale Bumpers (D-Ark.), who chaired the national parks and forests subcommittee, made a speech to the Senate that was as heartfelt as it was effective in support of the federal government taking the land. Made me think of an article I read yesterday. In your story there are people who gave their blood, sweat and tears to preserve our history. Then I read a story where the park and forest rangers were asking residents to take down their flags and flag poles. Not sure why things are changing.
posted on July 22, 2002 12:56:25 PM new
Nice link, Thrinworks.
There's an immediacy to walking a battlefield that can never be learned from study, and we are poorer for the loss of that experience. You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on July 22, 2002 01:10:09 PM new
Thanks for the link, thrinworks. I'm glad to see that some land around Brandy Station has been preserved although too much has been lost to development there also. I was surprised to see a rather large strip mall built near the entrance to Manassas Battlefield a few years ago. The battle's not over yet.
posted on July 22, 2002 01:44:27 PM new
I can identify with the strong sense of history one can feel when in a historical place. When we visited DC and it's many sights like Mt. Vernon, the Potomic River, etc. that same sense of the history overwhelmed me.
posted on July 22, 2002 03:04:13 PM new
Never heard of her untill today,What a lady!
Love this quote most of all:
[b]She continued as an activist who was a hero to many and a noxious pest to others. Few were indifferent to her, and she seemed to relish combat.
She once told a Post reporter: "I bet I'm the only woman you know who's going to have a bouncer at her funeral. I've already arranged to keep my enemies out who are going to want to come and dance on my grave." She added with a chuckle, "You know, friends come and go, but enemies are forever."[/b]
