EDITORIAL: Show thanks for Gateway by attending

Posted

It's finally here!

Gateway to the West Days kicked off yesterday and the fun rolls on today, Saturday and Sunday.

Almost everywhere you look in Blair will have something for all ages going on. Businesses open their parking lots, schools open their doors and parks are flooded with people, all in the name of summer fun.

Events like Gateway to the West Days are what make summers in small towns special. They bring together the entire community and celebrate the people and places that make it an attractive place to live.

Gateway to the West Days cannot be done without the meticulous planning, hours of coordinating with vendors and entertainment and the selfless contributions of time, talent and energy from volunteers. Thanks to their efforts, Gateway to the West Days can happen safely and effectively.

How can we show our appreciation for the effort it takes to pull off a multi-day event with a schedule packed from start to finish each day? Simply attend. Attend one event each day, every single event or find a happy balance somewhere in between.

By attending, we recognize that these events have been carefully planned for our enjoyment. The thousands from Blair that attend over the course of the weekend and the many that travel from out of town to take in the sites are why these events are put on each year.

If we continue to show up, we show indefinitely we appreciate an event that brings in a variety of entertainment and that we support the continued efforts of those involved.

If the pandemic taught us anything, it's that we shouldn't take celebrations and in-person events for granted. For nearly two years, we sat at home with little to do. Now that we're back together, we've learned not to take for granted the opportunities we have to do so.

So with respect to the efforts made to put on the event and a refreshed appreciation for our ability to gather together, let's make this year's Gateway to the West Days one to remember forever. And then let's be ready to make the ones that follow the same.

Have a happy and safe summer celebration.