Writer disappointed in supervisors’ decision

Maury Kirby
Published: May 13, 2008

I am writing to express my disfavor with the vote cast by the Board of County Supervisors, in favor of closing down the Manassas Senior Day Program.

My wife is in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease and has been a participant for only one month. She loves the program and the staff who take care of her. I did not think that she would even last there one day, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out very early that she was the happiest I have seen her in years. I found myself staying around after delivering her and was amazed how professional the staff is and the dedication they have in regard to the programs they create and administer. It takes a lot of time and dedication to put together the program that they deliver each day of the week.

For 15 years, I was a selectman in Acton, Massachusetts. I was in office when the state passed Proposition 2.5, a program that many people said would shut down libraries, cut firemen and layoff police.
None of these things happened. We had to cut the programs that had big budgets which no longer were needed and served little purpose. None of the programs like caring for the sick and underprivileged were even reduced. I am sure there are better targets than the Manassas Senior Day Program that can be reduced or eliminated in Prince William County.

I worked for John Stirrup’s election back a few years ago. I worked to have him elected because he looked like a sharp guy and a level headed individual. But, his voting for closure was not the right thing to do. A county should be involved in helping the sick, the unfortunate and the underprivileged. Being a part of the Manassas Senior Day Program has made life more bearable for my wife and me.

MAURY KIRBY

Gainesville