By Whitey Harwood

Special to the Salisbury Post

This is a thank-you to three people I don’t know and they don’t know me.

First is Duke Brown. Thank you for using a great little four-letter word, “move.”  I’ve been trying to move for over 10 years. I moved one time in 1968 to Southeast Asia for a year. I didn’t like it there so I came back here as soon as I got a chance. I brought back a Combat Infantryman Badge, two battle stars, a Purple Heart and an Air Medal for flying in over 25 combat missions.

Yes, I’ve been trying to move tobacco out of Rowan’s parks for over 10 years. The only help I have received so far is from Elizabeth Cook and the Salisbury Post. It wasn’t enough.

Back to the word, move. I’m going to use it in my 2016 campaign to ban tobacco. Here it goes.

M.O.V.E. stands for Make Our Visits Enjoyable. I love it. Maybe that Tennessee think tank can use it for rebranding Rowan.  “What do you think, Steve?”

Next is Neil Nurisso. I don’t know if you messed up or the Post messed up, but one of you did, bad! (Editor’s note: That was a Post error.) Here’s what I’m thanking you for. You have proved one of my theories, which is, “It ain’t against the law to think; you can think what you want to.”

Last is Jeff Sharp. Thank you for trying to fix Neil’s letter and also for bringing Whitney Peckman’s name to my attention. You stated, “she is active in trying to bring about positive change in our community to the benefit of us all.” That was a great endorsement. I need her for the M.O.V.E. movement. Can you get her to sign on?

Now, just a little for Greg Edds and the rest of the county commission. Maybe you all could pray about the movement and see if you get the urge to M.O.V.E.

Don Bringle, here is your turn. Ten years ago you told me you would love to see a tobacco ban in the parks but you couldn’t see any way to enforce it. Have you seen it yet? Here’s your chance to M.O.V.E. there.

For the rest of Rowan County: Please, for our kids and grandkids and the many little children to follow — plus people visiting from other places — let’s move the pot holes out of the roads, move the trash out of the ditches and move the tobacco out of the parks. Let’s all get on the M.O.V.E.

Whitey Harwood is a resident of Rowan County.

“My Turn” submissions should be 500-700 words. Send to editor@salisburypost.com with “My Turn” in the subject line. Please include name, address, phone number and, if possible, a digital photo of yourself.