Fayetteville delegation returns with title

"Fayetteville will never be Las Vegas, New Orleans, Orlando. We're a military town.  We just happen to think we're the best," said Mayor Tony Chavonne.

In a 20-minute presentation, the representatives of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg, including 20 uniformed soldiers from the 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus, convinced the judges from the National Civic League that the city once known as "Fayette-nam" is moving in the right direction.

The city's video presentation nodded to that reputation, comparing days when Hay Street downtown when it was filled with strip clubs and seedy bars with the redevelopment that has occurred there in recent years, attracting museums and condominiums.

"At the end of that 20 minutes, there wasn't a dry eye in the house, and there was a standing ovation," Chavonne said

Fayetteville was among 10 cities to win the award. The Rockingham County community of Eden also was a winner.

Fayetteville also won the honor in 1985 and 2001.

"We'll celebrate this and continue to move forward to make an even better city," Chavonne said.