I wish to start off this blog with a huge thank you to my readers. I wish you all a year of peace, happiness, health, and good fortune. 2008 has came and gone and I have to say, a lot of changes have been made in the community. Last year (2008) I really got involved in the community of Marked Tree. I can't particularly say there was a reason. For some reason I just jumped in. It started with helping out at the museum and really becoming interested in the history of Marked Tree. (I will do an article on the history of Marked Tree, consider that my New Year's resolution.) I guess that's when I decided I wanted to become a part of it. I started going to the City Council meetings. When I tell my friends that's where I'm going they look at me like I've lost my mind. But I say, don't be too quick to judge. Some of those meetings are better than any reality show ever! It got heated in quite a few of them, in fact only one I attended went smoothly to say the least.

Getting involved in my community has been my biggest accomplishment for 2008. What a year it was! Before, being like other young people I had my own life with friends doing other stuff and not really caring about the community and its events. Now that my life is composed of three things: family, friends, and my community. Marked Tree isn't such a boring place.

I've developed friendships to those that I looked at as kind of Marked Tree's "Elders". By "Elders" I mean the people who know the facts about Marked Tree like the back of their hand. The wise people who know how to keep a community organized. And now, with my new knowledge in tote, the people who are the back bone to this community. Most of these people work behind the scenes and get little recognition. These people like Soozi Williams and Mary Ann Arnold and Pam Wright. The list could go on forever and ever. Those of you who read my blog and that statement pertains to you, you know who you are. I tip my hat to each of you! As a young person, my responsibility to the community is low and I am able to just sit back and watch. These people don't have that luxury. They have to do things to have this community stay afloat. And most of the people don't even get paid for doing such a task. These people are volunteers.

If you think about it, who would volunteer to do that stuff? People who make the difference. With out these people, I don't know where this community would be. If you see these people out give them a huge thank you. Your City Council members, Chamber of Commerce members, School Board members, City employees, Friends of the Museum and Library, and any other volunteer that you know of. Give them a huge thank you. They take time out of their schedules to help their community when little recognition is given to them. This, my friends, is your recognition. My sincerest condolences extend to you and yours for making the community truly "a place to come home to."

I intended to have only a short paragraph to introduce my blog, but I can tell this has turned into a blog in its own. So, let me say a few more things before closing. 2008 held many accomplishments for Marked Tree. In September we had The Wall That Heals in town courtesy of the hard work of Danny & Barbara Adams and a HUGE list of many other people. Even though The Wall is no longer in town, I feel its presence still lingers. Going down the main street in town where buses of smiling faces of Vietnam Soldiers with tear streaked faces waved to a crowd of people waving flags and showing support for them once rolled by, when I'm on that street, I still see those faces. Down in the beautiful Cypress Park, where The Wall itself was laid I still feel the relaxing atmosphere that was present when it was here. I hope the feeling never fades. I think in that time the community strengthened as a whole. Businesses and organizations and dozens of volunteers poured out their time and donations and united. Unite. To come together, putting aside all differences and issues. I am truly grateful I live in such a community.

I will bring this to a close now. Happy New Year Marked Tree! And may 2009 be as great as it was in 2008. For the year 2008 was one to remember, may 2009 be the same. Thank you for reading and thank you for being a part of this community. Best wishes and God bless!

Dustin Hood