Letter to the Editor, 7/27/95:

I attended a beautiful Indian spiritual ceremony performed by Asa Primeaux and held in my honor at the Sacred Serpent Mound in Adam County, Ohio, July 17, 1995. The inspiring gathering was attended by both Indians and non-indians.

It was shocking to learn that the Ohio Historical Society has plans to sell the Sacred Serpent Mound, so the valley surrounding it can be flooded and commercially developed, thereby jeopardizing the preservation of the site.

The Adena mounds and the Anasazi Pueblos are the only structures that exist in the United States, that were built prior to the arrival of the Europeans, 500 years ago. Built 1,000-2,000 years ago by the Adena Indians, the Sacred Serpent Mound is historically priceless, surely it is worth saving.

The Adena Mound builders left Serpent Mound as a legacy which today’s people (both Indians and non-indians) use for spiritual renewal. What legacy are today’s people leaving – 1,000 to 2,000 years from now?

Nuclear waste lasts 250,000 years. Is that to be our legacy?

Time is of the essence! I urge the people in the state of Ohio and throughout the nation to Act Now. “SAVE THE SACRED SERPENT MOUND” from desecration and destruction. Write or call your legislators today.

I appeal also to organizations (Indian and non-indian) to join me in this serious effort. Send letters of support to:

“SAVE THE SACRED SERPENT MOUND”
c/o Diana Salisbury
7019 Ashridge
Arnheim Road
Sardinia, Ohio 45171.

Walk in Beauty:

Grace Thorpe
President, NECONA

The Honorable __________________________________________________

We have enclosed ________________ letters of support from groups requesting protection of Great Serpent Mound in Adams County Ohio.

The diversity of interests, cultural backgrounds and geographic locations of these groups provides evidence that Serpent Mound is a legacy to all humanity and should not be sacrificed to private, for-profit interests.

Serpent Mound is located on a limestone bluff overlooking a valley floor of undisturbed Native American burial mounds. The earthen mound itself is nearly one quarter mile long and is the largest and finest snake effigy in North America.

We respectfully request that you introduce legislation to protect Serpent Mound and other significant sites from destruction and desecration.

Respectfully submitted,

Diana Salisbury
Sycamore Valley Environmental Awareness Group
7019 Ashridge Arnheim Road
Sardinia, Ohio 45171
(513) 446-2763 voice/fax