A precious gem resting in a gift box of a valley…punctuated by low mountains…it was presented to me 50 years ago. I have held it tenderly in my care and even more so now. It is an heirloom.
I grew up in a small hometown also nestled into a valley. At a young age, I had migrated to this place. I knew the charms, elegance of a small town. I knew all the places to love. As a young woman, though, I had yet to become acquainted with all of its secret nuances. I needed experiences through the years to bring the revelation of its exquisiteness to me.
My husband Daniel presented this heirloom of his hometown to me in April, 1974, as a first wedding anniversary present. We were relocating here to an apartment so he could be closer to his job. A few months later, I would gain a position as a teacher at a small Catholic school. Through the years, I learned more about the part his family had played here from employment at a machine shop to the establishment of the fire company. They had roots here along with hometown pride.
In September, 2021, my beloved Daniel went home to God. Often, people would ask me if I was going to stay here. My response, “Dan gave me his hometown as a gift to love. So, I shall.” The gift of a family heirloom has a name…Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
