April 12, 2004

Gulfport (MS) Mayor Ken Combs, a 43-year-old military veteran, on April 3 presided over a city celebration to welcome home those involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and homeland security missions. Thirteen units — all deployed and returning home during the past year — of the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Army National Guard and Air National Guard — were represented and honored.

Philadelphia Mayor John Street said new security measures at the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall were an "unreasonable burden" on some of the best-known symbols of U.S. liberty. USA Today April 1 reported The National Park Service new rules hinder tourism in the area as well as shopping. Said Street: "We are a free society and a great democracy, and Independence Mall is the biggest and most visible symbol of that that exists anymore."

The April 6 Augusta (GA) Chronicle covered Arnold Palmer Day at Master 2004. The 74-year old and 50-year Masters golf veteran was joined in his last week of his Masters Tournament career by three mayors. Augusta Mayor Bob Young invited Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James Garner and Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido to Augusta and watch as Young presented Palmer a crystal key to the city and also proclaimed the day in honor of Palmer.

U.S./Mexico Bi-National Group on Bridges and Border Crossings

Nuevo Laredo Mayor Jose "Pepe" Suarez, U.S.-Mexico Border Affairs Director, State Department, Dennis M. Linsky, and Laredo Mayor Betty Flores took time for a photo during the welcoming reception of the 34th meeting of the U.S./Mexico Bi-national Group on Bridges and Border Crossings Monday, March 29 in San Antonio. Los Dos Laredos will be making a joint presentation to the Mexican and U.S. delegations, co-chaired by Linsky and Enrique Escorza Zamudio, Border Affairs Director for the Mexican Secretary of Exterior Relations on the fifth international bridge initiative. The conference ran March 30 — April 1 and provided an opportunity for communities and project promoters to present their views and plans regarding existing and future border crossings.

Roswell (NM) Mayor Bill B. Owen sent U.S.MAYOR a photograph of him riding with President George W. Bush during a January 22 New Mexico visit. Set in the Presidential limousine, the special photographer who took the picture was U.S. Representative Steve Pearce of New Mexico.