Missed opportunities?

To the editor,
As I read about the Battle of the Wilderness 145th anniversary and the planned Virginia Civil War Sesquicentennial, I realize I’ve heard nothing about possible Orange County participation in any part of the commemoration.
Why aren’t our county leaders and the Orange County Department of Tourism organizing and spearheading ways to capitalize on a tourism asset and economic driver? Visitors from over 25 states have already attended functions in Virginia related to the anniversaries. With planning, an amazing tourism opportunity might bring thousands of visitors to the county. They would be looking for lodging, restaurants and places to spend money.
It is astonishing to me that instead of resolutely protecting our history and working to create an attractive and welcoming gateway, a board of supervisors majority is willing to encourage the construction of a Walmart and the usual accompanying retail development on land overlooking an area where thousands perished. Should these sacrifices, offered at a critical period in our nation’s history, be ignored and/or forgotten in the name of commerce?
I wish the supervisors who favor this location for Walmart could explain why others just as suitable, or more centrally located to the county’s entire population, are not being encouraged.
Maybe Walmart will come forward and show leadership in identifying a less intrusive location.
I would also like to know why we may all be wasting our time with public hearings over this issue when, again, from what has been written, a majority has already made up its mind.
Someone asked me recently why Orange County voters are so complacent about what is going on. I have no answer because I wonder the same.
Joan Bergstrom
Unionville