Emporia’s leaders are caught up in confusion over what to do with a spate of signs, all of which reflect a part of the essence of our city.
Emporia is the Founding City of Veterans Day. Emporia is a Diverse Community. Emporia is Building Futures to develop an even better community. Emporia is the hometown of NASCAR star Clint Bowyer. Emporia is all that, and more.
Some want to tack up all-inclusive signage that no one except speed-readers will be able to assimilate as they drive by.
Let’s break the problem down to basics, one segment at a time.
Many communities are diverse. It’s not a novelty and it’s not something that cries out for advertising. It’s a fact, and not a unique one. Scratch the diversity sign.
The Chamber is working hard on its Building Futures campaign, and trying to involve a broader segment of the community into the premise. The people who need to buy into Building Futures already live and/or work here; they aren’t going to be swayed by signs as they drive in from the suburbs. The travelers who drive through Emporia are building futures, too — in other locales. Scratch the Building Futures signs.
Then there’s Clint Bowyer, and oh! what that young man deserves for all the positive attention he’s heaped on Emporia’s collective head, to say nothing of the bounty of his generous donations to good causes for kids and grown-ups alike.
Instead of limiting Clint’s exposure to only the city limits, let’s instead mark off a portion of Interstate Highway 35 and name it The Clint Bowyer Trafficway. Let everyone who whizzes by on the I-35 bypass know that Emporia is Clint’s hometown. Other communities have similar acknowledgements; even the Kansas Turnpike, in the most landlocked state in the nation, has a segment dedicated to submarines.
So, let’s choose only the Veterans Day connection to mark the city’s entrances. It’s the one on-going asset that Emporia alone can claim forever.
The private individuals and businesses who donated money to buy the “Founding City of Veterans Day” signs have every reason to expect the signs will stand alone in honor and in recognition of Veterans Day and veterans — without the clutter of unrelated, unnecessary information.
Bobbi Mlynar
Reporter
Comments
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Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said!!!!!!!
Posted by HenryVIII (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at noon (Suggest removal)
I agree, Bobbi. You probably don't make enough cents for the amount of sense you make.
'enry
Posted by FarmRaised (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And the William Allen White signs?
Posted by HenryVIII (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who?
'enry
Posted by methusla (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, lets see, William Allen White, yes he was pretty famous or infamous, depending on how you look at it, but the News paper he founded is no longer printed in its founding home !
Clint Bowyer, well yes he is a home town boy and doing, well, fairly decently !
However Vetrans Day and being the founding home of Veterans Day is a different matter. As long as there have been conflicts/war, are presently conflicts/war or will be conflicts or war that those who serve in the military, bleed, are maimed or die continue and there have been, are, and there are veterans of such conflicts/war, Veterans Day will be something that will be ingrained in peoples thoughts, minds and memories for generations to come, as is any and every memorial of rememberance that has been erected to remember and honor those who gave their all for their country and fellow man !
I know that every time I visit the Vietnam War or the all veterans memorial, I get very emotional, especially seeing the 50+ thousand names on the Vietnam memorial, of which some were friends and comrades, and still are friends and comrades, in my heart and will be carried there forever !
I think of, remember with pride and reverance every one of my relatives, friends, comrades as well as every man and woman who has given much and sacrificed much for their country and fellow man, woman and child !
And Veterans Day should be special enough to warrant a sign, signifying such, therefore a sign denoting Emporia, Kansas as the founding City or birth place of Veterans Day gets my vote hands-down !
God Bless all the men and women, young and old, past, present and future that have, are, and will sacrifice much so the rest of us/you may live the lives you wish or are free to pursue !
God bless you all and a big heart felt Thank You !
Posted by FarmRaised (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes. I agree with what you are saying methusla; however, The William Allen White Award for outstanding Journalistic Merit and The Children's Book Award are both ongoing as well.
I would like to see both the WAW and the Veteran's Day signs displayed. I think there is room for both.
Posted by sandman (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Meth and FarmRaised , I agree with both plus I would like to tell Bobbi, SUPER job!!!!, for many AMERICANS have given-up their lives so that we may remain FREE!!! They didn't do so in thoughts that they would be "honored" but because they
were AMERICANS, but, it is so very nice that we as a city desire to recognize their efforts. Also, Thanks to Mr. Solis for bringing this to the attention of EMPORIANS!!!
Posted by biscuitboy (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bobbi
Well thought out piece and very well presented.....you certainly convinced this old dog.
Posted by cyberspace (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Founding city of Veterans Day and William Allen White are deserving of signs. With all due respect to Clint Bowyer, a sign for him grouped with these is not appropriate.
The diversity sign is not needed. I recall a meeting at White Auditorium that was called to discuss the impact of Somalian refugees to our community. Anyone who was present knows we are anything but an inclusive community! It's going to take more than a sign to change attitudes. Right now, it seems too hypocritical. Claiming we are an inclusive community just seems to "kum ba yah". Nice but no substance.
Posted by biscuitboy (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cyberspace
You make some very good points about the overriding importance of Veterans Day and William Allen White to our community.Some down play the importance of WAW now but I remember my first day in college journalism 101 down in Arkansas. As we went around the class introducing ourselves with name and hometown....the minute I said Emporia, Kansas, the instructor and a good portion of the class said "Oh William Allen White's home town.
I agree totally with your take on the inclusive idea also.
The way the Somalians were treated here was anything but inclusive and was an embarrassment to this city. Just forget about inclusive unless you are only talking about blond hair blue eyed inclusive.
As for Clint Bowyer I think Bobbi's idea about a stretch of I-35 was the best idea I've heard yet and wouldn't interfere with our honoring the veterans.
Posted by Wasp (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 12:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And no speed limit on that stretch of I-35!
Posted by reddog (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 12:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In recognizing the humanity of his fellow veterans, Clint paid himself the highest tribute. Clint gave criticism a lead around the first turn and he still won the race and that's one for the history books. Go the extra mile, it never seems to be crowded. Henery David Thoreau said,"goodness is the only investment that never fails."
Posted by Steve_Corbin (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bobbi, once again you nailed it.
I heared a lot of compliments on your article after the parade today.
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