I walk here most days, to this strip of sand settled by the Ais, a tribe of Native Americans.

It’s easy to imagine them living here, small nomadic bands making camp.

So much has changed since then.

Remember when you could just pull off to the side of the road and stroll through dunes to the ocean?  Today, most of the Atlantic Coast is overrun with parking lots, concessions, and billboards.

But here in the land of the Ais, there are still plenty of pristine beaches with easy and free public access.

Markers always interest me. (There isn’t one for the Ais. At least, I haven’t seen one yet.)  I’m curious to know more about the honorees, the folks who came before us, the ones who deserve our gratitude.

The marker near the dune is for C. Scott Fletcher, an Australian-born education professional. Fletcher spent more than three decades protecting these beaches from development. He pioneered Save Our Beaches.  The Ais would applaud him, I’m sure.

This part of the shoreline was named in honor of Scott and his wife Billie. It would look much different today if it weren’t for the efforts of these beloved visionary community activists.

C. Scott Fletcher died in 1991. His legacy never will.

Toni 2/4/18