We look forward to getting our copy of the Page News and Courier each week in the mail, and we try to read ahead to know about auctions and other events going on before our weekends at the cabin. Recently the paper has had quite a bit of interesting news, between the election coverage (very spirited letters to the editor, for example) and the news about the Sheriff’s federal indictment (22 counts, cockfighting “the tip of the iceberg,” potential for 304 years and $2-million in fines if convicted), but one of the things that recently attracted my attention was a letter about the Valley League, a baseball summer, minor league that is played in this area.
The Luray team is called the Wranglers, after the clothing plant that has been based here over the years. I’ll reprint parts of the letter over the next couple of days. It’s a charming letter, so
I’ll edit only to meet my posting schedule.
"'One Summer in Luray'
A letter to the Editor, Page News and Courier, Thursday, October 30, 2008 edition
By Bill Reid Jr., Moberly, MO
What can one say? Two of the most important things all parents want for their children is for them to be happy and safe. Well, “one summer in Luray” provided a lot more than that for our son. Our family has been very blessed, and we have very little about which to complain.
Our son, Owen Reid, has spent most of his summers since he was 14 years old traveling our great nation playing baseball for a number of great organizations, and he has stayed with many wonderful people. He has played on other championship teams and has received many honors, but the top of the list has to be “one summer in Luray.”
Luray, Virginia, a town of 5,500 in the Shenandoah Valley is the smallest town in the Valley Baseball League and is also much smaller than all the other baseball cities in which Owen has played. But the warmth, compassion, and commitment that this unique town has for its baseball team, the Luray Wranglers, puts it at the top of the list. Most families would pay top dollar to have their son to have a summer experience like Owen had. Yet he enjoyed “one summer in Luray” for virtually nothing.
My wife and I visited Owen in July, staying in Luray for 11 days. From the beginning of our visit, we felt the warmth of the community…"
There is a blog on the Harrisonburg aggregator site that goes into more detail about the Valley League:
http://allthingsvalleyleague.typepad.com/
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