GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

H                                                                                                                                                   D

HOUSE RESOLUTION DRHR30601-LG-170A  (07/11)

Sponsors:	Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
Referred to:

A HOUSE RESOLUTION Recognizing North Carolina's 2013 all-america city award honorees.

Whereas, the All-America City Award program was founded in 1949 to recognize cities for their civic achievements; and

Whereas, to be named an All-America City, a community must demonstrate innovation, inclusiveness, civic engagement, and cross-sector collaboration by describing successful efforts to address pressing local challenges and must briefly tell its community's story, listing two of their most pressing challenges and three outstanding community projects; and

Whereas, on June 16, 2013, the Towns of Dunn, Garner, and Thomasville were named three of the 10 communities across the country to win the All-America City Award, which is often called the Nobel Prize of civic accomplishment; and

Whereas, the Town of Dunn, located in Harnett County, was incorporated by the General Assembly in 1887 and named for Bennett R. Dunn, construction engineer for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; and

Whereas, Dunn's outstanding community projects for the All-America City Award included the involvement of the Town's civic leaders in the planning, negotiation, and financial investment in the development of the new 50-bed Central Harnett Hospital; the revitalization of the Town's City Center, which includes the burial of power lines and telecommunication cables, renovation of the aged water and sewer system, replacement of the pavement, incorporation of attractive brick and cement features, and grants to downtown businesses to update their facades; and the development of the Dunn Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL), which annually offers various programs from athletics to SAT/ACT test preparation to up to 300 young people ages six to 18 and offers teens the opportunity to join the PAL Youth Leadership Council, which promotes volunteerism, public service, and an understanding of civics and government; and

Whereas, the Town of Garner, located in Wake County, was reincorporated by the General Assembly in 1905 and named for H. C. Garner, the Town's founder; and

Whereas, Garner's three best projects for the All-America City Award included the new $500,000 Garner Veterans Memorial at Lake Benson Park that features pillars with the names of 67 Garner-area veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country and the artwork of world-famous Raleigh-based sculptor Thomas Sayre; the First Baptist Church's Community of Hope Ministries which collaborates with six Garner-area elementary schools to identify at-risk students to provide support for these students and their families through a number of programs, including an after-school program and food pantry; and the Garner Performing Arts Center, which is housed in a salvaged school and is the location for a community theater group, a summer theater camp program that reaches 120 campers annually, and other cultural programs such as the Broadway Voices series, a public-private partnership that brings some of Broadway's biggest shows to the local stage; and

Whereas, the Town of Thomasville, located in Davidson County, was incorporated by the General Assembly in 1857 and named for John Warwick Thomas, the Town's founder; and

Whereas, in a video presentation, Thomasville's local community leaders described their three projects as follows: the Thomasville Memorial Day events that celebrate veterans and military families, which have included memorabilia displays around the community of the veterans who gave their lives while protecting the freedoms of others; Project Divine Interruption, a program whereby individuals and area businesses raised funds to provide hygiene kits, clothing, meals, and other essentials items to assist area homeless students to strengthen their self-respect and keep them on an equal playing field; and Children at Play, an initiative to address childhood obesity, which was led by the Rotary and members of the business community, foundations, and private citizens to raise $300,000 to reequip seven public parks throughout the community with modern, safe, and inviting playgrounds, including a playground accessible to those with physical disabilities; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives recognizes the Towns of Dunn, Garner, and Thomasville on each being named a 2013 All-America City and applauds the citizens of these Towns for their efforts in helping to make their Towns worthy of receiving this prestigious award.

SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of the founders and early leaders of the Towns of Dunn, Garner, and Thomasville for their contributions to these Towns.

SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Mayors of the Towns of Dunn, Garner, and Thomasville.

SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.