At this time of year we are reminded of the unique Christmas story of 2006 that involved this website, most of Pagosa Country and the world. This event became a real sociological and philosophical event among the citizens reflecting divergent ages and attitudes. A home owner in Loma Linda Subdivision made a peace symbol from a round Christmas wreath and hung it on her house. The Home Owners association took exception and ordered it taken down. The home owner wrote a letter printed and posted in local media. The story then went “viral” on the internet around the world. The following is a compilation of images of the event.
On Yahoo Search there are 1,920,000 pages for “Pagosa peace wreath.” Amazing and unbelievable!
That was the internet search number at the height of the story.
During the winter of 2006 a story gripped Pagosa Country concerning a wreath hung in Loma Linda Subdivision and the reaction to it by the Loma Linda Property Owners Home Owners Association . The story was featured on CNN and went viral with so many email responses coming in to this website, from all over the world, that the server had to shut down our email system. We will not run names here, but show some images of this story showing Pagosa’s reaction.
The story of the Loma Linda peace wreath went to the far corners of the planet via the Associated Press, CNN, the internet and other modern and near-instant means of communication. Here at Pagosa.com we were overwhelmed with the response, hearing from people across the country and out of country. There is no way any of us can know how many peace wreaths are out there by now. 100, 1,000, 10,000, 1,000,000; the sky is the limit! On a personal note, this has taught me that it is, indeed, a small world…NOW! Norm
In support of the peace wreath Pagosa residents went all out and homes across the area had homemade wreaths.
This is an article posted by the website by the editor.
The Grinch Who Stole Loma Linda
Every Pagosan Down in Pagosa-ville
Liked Peace a lot… But the Grinch,
Who lived just south of Pagosa-ville,
Did NOT!
The Grinch hated Peace!
The whole Peace symbol season!
Now, please don’t ask why.
No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his harmony was two sizes too small.
But, Whatever the reason,
His harmony or his shoes,
He stood there in Loma Linda,
having the blues.
Staring down from his abode with a sour, Grinchy frown
Insisting he was the right one, in his own little town.
For he knew everyone down in Pagosa-ville and around,
Was busy wishing Peace with a joyful sound.
For he that stole Loma Linda,
Because he knew he was right,
Instead had his britches twisted,
He was way too up-tight!
So now we’re the laughing,
Stock of the nation,
People a snickerin,’
all over creation.
Where’s Oprah, now that we need her,
Oprah loves us with might,
She’ll lay these guys out, and make everything right.
(Oprah Winfrey had just visited Pagosa Springs)
As an act of protest directed to the Home Owners Organization that ordered removal of a peace symbol-shaped Christmas wreath, a group of citizens did a good old fashioned peace march resulting in a statement for all to see. Ultimately the home owners association reneged and reversed the ruling forbidding the peace symbol and it stayed in place the full season.
