~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What the Town of West Union Means to me Essay Contest has a winner - see Press Release

Honorable Mention~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What West Union Means To Me
By Brianna Swisher

While I walk down calm, quiet, deserted Main Street, stray leaves blow from sidewalk to sidewalk. The smell of rain accents the cool breeze while the five o’clock church bells ring in their timely manner. I realize that while I complain about the lack of activities available, there is a peacefulness and security that I feel in my little town.

As I prepare to move on with my life, visit new places, meet new people, and experience new and more exciting things, I will always remember my home town. The place I grew up will always be a part of me; it has shaped me into the person I am and the person I will become.

I cherish the little things about West Union, but what makes it so special, is the people in it. Whenever I am in town, I am greeted with a smile or a hello from every person that I encounter. Most everyone knows me by name or knows me because they know my dad. I like to say that the entire town knows everybody and their brother.

While I am unable to fulfill my occasional desire to be lost in a crowd of people; if I am in need of help, I will always have someone to turn to. I will never get that anywhere else.

One of the things I like best about West Union is the safeness I feel in it. Ninety percent of the cars parked along the street are unlocked, little kids as young as nine can be seen walking down the streets without parental supervision, and you can walk across the street, without a crosswalk, and not worry about being run over by a taxi.

I love hearing stories from my Grandma about how West Union looked back in the “good ol’ days”. Back when the train ran through town, when there was a drive-in, a movie theater, and bowling alley, and when the walking bridge was a two-lane bridge for cars. I often wish I could have seen West Union years ago in all its glory.

Time changes everything, but I feel that when the clock stopped on the Courthouse, time stopped for the town. It froze us back in time when people enjoyed the simple things in life. Everyone still waves at the people they pass by, even if they don’t know who it is. People lend a helping hand to others if they break down, and West Union’s citizens come running to the rescue when the squad house- alarm sounds. Life has changed slightly because now people way out in the boonies can’t get DSL instead of a phone, but everyone still shares the same sense of community.

This town has only changed slightly over time, but West Union, in all its smallness, will always hold a special place in my heart.