New slogan fits our soldiers well

Editorials

October 13, 2006

Anonymous The Daily Southerner Fri Oct 13, 2006, 11:57 AM EDT

“An Army of One” is out. “Army Strong” is in.

The U.S. Army will spend $200 million a year with an advertising agency conducting a new recruiting campaign. “Army Strong” is the new slogan.

Army officials decided to throw out “An Army of One” because it sends the wrong message. The Army relies on teamwork and unity. One person does not a team make.

The soldiers never liked the old slogan. Not only does it not fit the Army’s mission, it misstates what the soldiers strive for, what they depend on and what makes them proud – teamwork.

We admire the exploits of Sgt. Alvin York, but not even he stood alone in the battlefield. He had help. He had a team. It wasn’t the team with which he had trained, but it was a team nonetheless, scraped together in the heat of battle to accomplish one objective - defeat the enemy.

York was the central figure, no doubt. He is a hero for the ages. But he relied on his fellow soldiers in the capture of hundreds of the enemy. It was one of the greatest exploits in Army annals. It was the epitome of “Army Strong.”

The Army says the soldiers like the new slogan. Many were interviewed when the brass decided to toss out that bedeviling phrase that indicates solo heroics.

“Army Strong” seems simplistic at first glance, but strength of mind, body and spirit is the characterization the Army wants and the soldiers have earned.

We must say, however, that we are confident a soldier alone in conflict or emergency will carry out the mission. We may rest assured that as long as one soldier or Marine is standing, as long as one sailor is still afloat, as long as one pilot can get a plane in the air, we can count on our country being defended to the last and defended well.

Our men and women will do their duty because of teamwork, because of their training, because of what’s in their hearts.

“Army Strong” makes a lot of sense. It’s more descriptive. It suggests a capable Army of toughness and of unity, not a loose bunch of freelancers who somehow get the job done.

“Army Strong.” That’s much better. It ought to get some attention.

— Hickory Daily Record

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Editorials

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And while you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking if someone liked either music or arts and crafts, there is no such uncertainty when it comes to food.
My favorite of the day was from the Hispanic Youth Group from Tarboro’s First Baptist Church. Their tamales were, as the Campbell Soup Kids used to say, “umm, umm. good!”

May 21, 2012
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May 14, 2012
Who looks after our parks?
To the Editor:
There are so many wonderful aspects of living in a small town like Tarboro; we have opportunities to participate in improvement programs in gardening, home restoration courses, weight loss, summer recreation, wholesome weekend events, some of which are free, and many more that meet the interests of our residents, such as the upcoming free concert on our Town Common by the North Carolina Symphony. There’s a “Trap, Neuter, Return” organization to keep the feline population in-check. Check out the calendar page of the Daily Southerner and you will be informed of opportunities for all ages.

May 14, 2012
Thanks from United Way
To the Editor:
A remarkable group of more than 175 citizens came together recently to celebrate a major accomplishment for the communities in Edgecombe and Nash Counties. The joy was palpable at the Champions’ Luncheon as the United Way Tar River Region affirmed that the ambitious goal of raising more than $1.26 million has been reached! There was a collective sigh of relief in knowing that funds will be available to continue support for the growing number of needs in our local neighborhoods.

May 14, 2012
Economic growth a must
I give credit to Rich Karlgaard, a regular contributor to Forbes magazine, for many of the statistics I use in this column.
As we all know our economy is extremely sluggish to put it mildly. It’s just growing at somewhere between 1 percent and 2 percent and at this rate the economy can only get worse. In comparison, our economy has grown, on average, at a rate of 3.3 percent since the end of World War II. And even during this time frame we had two big recessions.

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May 9, 2012
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That effort continues this week when the Rocky Hock Opry rolls into town for a couple of Saturday performances at Edgecombe Community College.
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May 7, 2012
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It is a time when we, as Americans, go to the polls and make decisions that affect the course our communities, our counties, our states and, ultimately, our nation, will take.
But while many will spend time discussing their “right” to vote, we would like to point out that it is also the responsibility of a citizen of this great land to participate in the electoral process.

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Your Views
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Do you remember where you were?
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May 4, 2012
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