April 18 – It sounds cliche to say, but “America is great because America is good.”

And, by extension, Americans are good.

It is easy to forget that when you watch the events in Boston this week. And some of the other events of violence which have occurred in recent times.

As always, the “first responders” selflessly waded into the midst of the destruction to do what they do best. While most are running away from the danger, the first responders are going in – often at the cost of their own lives.

Not to take anything away from the “first responders,” in reality, we are a nation of responders. Whenever or wherever there are people in need Americans step up to help – remember 9/11, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the tsunami in Thailand, the tsunami in Japan, the earthquake in Haiti – the list is long.

From the beginning in 1607, this nation has been based on ethics and principles that make the majority of Americans “good.”

Friends And Neighbors

On Tuesday, April 16, the Abilene Homemakers Club met at the Club House to get started on the quilt which will be raffled in October. The Abilene Homemakers Club meets the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 21. Everyone will bring a favorite salad to share. New members, visitors and guests are always welcome.

On Tuesday, April 16, the Farmville-Prince Edward Historical Society held their regular monthly meeting. The program was a celebration of the “110 Anniversary of the Farmville Train Station” and included birthday cake and punch.

Next month's meeting of the Historical Society will be on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at the Train Station. James E. Harris Jr. will present a program on “Growing up in The Triangle – Kingsville, Worsham, and Hampden-Sydney.”

The next meeting of the Abilene Community Club will be on Friday, April 26, at 7 p.m. at the Club House. We hope to see you there.

On Sunday, April 28, the Nelson Family Reunion will be held at the Abilene Community Center from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Dustin Johnson who will celebrate on April 21.

If you have any news or announcements that you would like to share, please call me at 223-2271 or email me at kz5ro@kinex.net.