Is Independence a Presidential Community?

Last week, we traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia and toured the presidential homes of Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and James Madison. It was an interesting experience to spend time in a community that has embraced their presidential histories. The presidential homes were magnificent by themselves but the local community goes to great lengths to preserve and maintain the historic settings and landscapes surrounding these landmarks. And it is not the federal government or local government zoning doing this. It is private citizens through local not-for-profit groups and foundations taking on the responsibilities of protecting these landmarks and landscapes while making them accessible to the general public. And what a difference it makes when the community is supportive. Historians have ranked Jefferson to be the 7^th greatest presidents of our country. Monroe is ranked 14^th and Madison is ranked 20^th. Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and Madison was the primary author of the US Constitution. Meanwhile, back in the hometown of the 5^th greatest US president, Harry Truman, how has the City of Independence responded to its national responsibility? It is great to have the federal government step in and assist with the preservation and protection of the Truman Home. And it is appropriate for the City of Independence to provide local zoning and historic district regulations for the protection of the historic setting of the Truman Home. But wouldn’t it be great if local citizens, churches, and institutions just wanted to do it anyway because it was the right thing to do?