By Tim Binnall
Bigfoot has yet another American locale that it can call home as a Pennsylvania community has named the legendary creature their "official cryptid." The delightful designation was reportedly made this past Tuesday by way of a proclamation issued by Grant Nicely, mayor of Derry Borough. In addition to bestowing the lofty title to Bigfoot, the decree also declares the community to be a Sasquatch sanctuary wherein it is now illegal to harm or capture the beloved creature.
The announcement is not altogether surprising as, earlier this summer, local officials indicated that they were considering various ways to embrace Bigfoot as a way of putting Derry Borough on the proverbial paranormal map. To that end, the newly issued proclamation provided the community with a new nickname, designating it as 'The Gateway to the Mysterious Chestnut Ridge,' which is a region of Pennsylvania renowned for its rich history of high strangeness.
"By proclaiming Bigfoot as our official cryptid and establishing Derry as a sanctuary, we are embracing our local folklore and the rich history that makes our community unique," Council Vice-President Nathan Bundy said in a press release, "this proclamation honors the generations of stories and sightings that have made Derry and the Chestnut Ridge a destination for those intrigued by the unknown."
With their official proclamation, Derry Borough joins a cavalcade of communities across America that have embraced Bigfoot in recent years. From Whitehall, New York, and Jefferson, Texas to Evergreen, Alabama, and Marion, North Carolina there is seemingly no shortage of spots in the United States where Sasquatch is celebrated. As the list of communities continues to grow, one can only hope that the elusive creature will come to appreciate all of the recognition and reveal itself at last.