To the Board of Supervisors of Lewis County, West Virginia.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

My name is Margaret Rathbun. I am the great, great granddaughter of Micheal Griffin and Margaret (Grogan) Griffin who immigrated from County Donegal, Ireland to Lewis County, in then northwestern Virginia, in 1840. The Griffins were part of a great exodus of Irish people who left Ireland and came to America during the Potato Famine of the 1840s. Most of the immigrants traveled with people from their same county of origin and often settled together. Lewis County, and nearby Weston, became the new home of many immigrants from County Donegal and County Galway. The Irish immigrants brought with them their love of music, literature and learning as well as their strong Catholic faith. In that regard, it was important for these new immigrant communities to have a church where they could gather for Mass when a traveling priest was available. In 1845, Michael Griffin built St. Michael's Church (a large log structure) on Flesher Run of Knawl Creek. The church served as the first permanent Catholic church in Lewis County and served as an important and central part of life for a growing and vibrant population for many years until a larger permanent structure was built in nearby Weston.

I am writing to you to request an allocation of public funds for the purchase of a small plaque and cross to be placed at or near the original location of St. Micheal's Church (there is County land within 300 yards). The plaque would commemerate the original church and the local Irish population and would contain the prayer to St. Micheal the Archangel, a favorite of the Irish immigrants.

I understand that you might have some concern that paying for the plaque and cross, and allowing it to be placed on public land, would somehow violate the separation between government and religion. However, it is an historical fact that the immigrants that settled Lewis County and developed its communities,businesses and schools, were Irish Catholic immigrants. The plaque and cross are a commemorative of the early settlers and the prayer is instructive of their beliefs. An historical marker with an important prayer is a recognition of the people, ideas and beliefs that built up Lewis County. It is a way for the Board of Supervisors to show an appreciaition for the County's history and a further recognition of the inclusiveness that now characterizes the community as a whole. Because it is important to support diversity within our communities, what better way to recognize the diverse and rich cultural and religious backgrounds that make up our history.

Tinker Vs. Des Moines

John Tinker, his sister Mary Beth, and a friend wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War.

(1965)

They were immediately sent home by the principal! Their school had established a policy permitting students to wear several political symbols, but had excluded armbands protesting the Vietnam War.

Their fathers sued.

The District Court ruled that the school had not violated the Constitution. The Court of Appeals agreed with the lower court, so the Tinkers appealed to the Supreme Court.

In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the students had the right to wear armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War.

Justice Abe Fortas wrote for the majority. He first emphasized that students have First Amendment rights: “It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”

The first amendment protects our right to free speech…

Not our right to vandalism!

The American flag stands for everything we believe in and everything that soldiers long gone have fought for. No, they did not just die for the material that the flag is made out of, but rather laid down their lives for this country. Haven't they been disgraced enough over the years, why is it so hard to have some respect? Freedom of expression must have some limits. The act of desecrating the flag is offensive, discourages love for your country and for all these reasons should be illegal.

STOP THE MADNESS

Westboro Baptists need to be stopped.

For some reason, they think they’re on top.

All that hatred built up inside

is taken out on those who support gay pride.

While their constitutional rights give them free speech,

There should be limits on what they preach.

Offensive protests outside of funerals

And outrageous statements on tv news channels.

This is not what freedom of speech is about,

Toying with those mourning a loss should not be allowed.

We need to instill respect for others

And not allow for this mockery of one another.

We cannot take lightly these sacred rights.

if taken advantage of, we will smite

those who have fought for us to be,

Citizens in the land of the free.