North Carolina Celebrations

Returning from four days of meetings with allied leaders, President Bush stopped here Sunday to welcome home U.S. troops returning from the Persian Gulf, declaring they had "helped us revive the America of our old hopes and dreams." As thousands of local residents waved a virtual sea of American flags in the high school football stadium, Bush said the troops "not only helped liberate Kuwait" but also will "help this country liberate itself from old ghosts and doubts."

Returning from four days of meetings with allied leaders, President Bush stopped here Sunday to welcome home U.S. troops returning from the Persian Gulf, declaring they had "helped us revive the America of our old hopes and dreams." As thousands of local residents waved a virtual sea of American flags in the high school football stadium, Bush said the troops "not only helped liberate Kuwait" but also will "help this country liberate itself from old ghosts and doubts."

Officials of the annual Woolly Worm Festival say that Saturday's caterpillar races will include something new--drug tests for the winners. A group of local health professionals, including a veterinarian, will set up a laboratory on the festival grounds to ensure that the competition remains clean, spokeswoman Catherine Morton said. No macho, steroid-munching woolly worms allowed.

Peace in the Middle East transformed Fayetteville, N.C., home of the 82nd Airborne Division, into a jubilant town, one that is anticipating the return of the first large group of U.S. troops as soon as Thursday. So much has changed since a month ago, when Connie Bidwell and two associates began planning a support rally for the troops overseas. Now, she says, the rally--scheduled for Sunday--"has changed to a homecoming celebration."

Peace in the Middle East transformed Fayetteville, N.C., home of the 82nd Airborne Division, into a jubilant town, one that is anticipating the return of the first large group of U.S. troops as soon as Thursday. So much has changed since a month ago, when Connie Bidwell and two associates began planning a support rally for the troops overseas. Now, she says, the rally--scheduled for Sunday--"has changed to a homecoming celebration."

Officials of the annual Woolly Worm Festival say that Saturday's caterpillar races will include something new--drug tests for the winners. A group of local health professionals, including a veterinarian, will set up a laboratory on the festival grounds to ensure that the competition remains clean, spokeswoman Catherine Morton said. No macho, steroid-munching woolly worms allowed.