It was said that someone saw Bob Kiss kick at several of Carol Jackson’s dead stream "tombstones" in his rush to get to his arena. (Each of Carol’s tombstones represents a stream that has been destroyed by valley fills from strip mining). I hope this is not true – that he would so blatantly disregard a "sentiment" of a voter, taxpayer and one of West Virginia’s outstanding citizens. I also hope that it is not true that someone from the governor’s office, using the pretext of the tombstones creating a fire hazard, ordered the tombstones removed. There are many ways to quell freedom of speech by those whose commitment to the democratic process is similar to such commitment from a Hitler or a Stalin, and using the "fire hazard" excuse to stifle it is not an uncommon one. We can only hope that our elected representatives do not fit this mold.

I am speaking, of course, about several incidents which set off a bad tone for the E-Day of February 26. In spite of these ill-conceived disrespects of individual rights in a free society, the tenth annual E-Day was a smashing success. It was not without significance that this day was the anniversary of the Buffalo Creek disaster.

Speakers were upbeat, awards for good works were given and exhibitors encircled the perimeter of the Capitol rotunda with well-designed layouts.

Carol Jackson, stifled in her tombstone display, was able to show off her talents through her Mountain Top removal skit which she wrote, made all the props for, and directed.

Awards were given to persons who have done outstanding work on behalf of the citizens of West Virginia both now and in the future. Awards given at E-Day:

Mother Jones Award -- To Vivian Stockman and Jim Kotcon

Linda Schnautz Environmental Courage Award – Posthumously to Joy Allison

Chuck Chambers Public Service Award – Ruth and Hugh Rogers

Organizer of the Year Award – Julian Martin

These awards are discussed elsewhere in this issue of the Voice.

The highlight of the day was the stirring keynote speech given by Denise Giardina, who got several standing ovations for her fiery utterances castigating Big Coal and its legacy in West Virginia.