All-America!

TAMPA, Fla. - As it was in 1988, representatives of Kinston had to wait until almost the last minute before their name was called.

But when it was called - the eighth out of 10 All-America City award winners announced Friday - the members of the city's delegation screamed with joy.

"We've got tears all over the place and hugs going all around," City Manager Scott Stevens said. "It's pretty neat."

A 35-member group of Kinstonians, including committee members, Gate and Little-by-Little participants and assorted spouses and children, have spent the last three days in Tampa for the National Civic League's 60th annual All-America City competition.

"It is a community win," Stevens said. "It's not this city; it's the community."

The city manager broadcast the awards ceremony over his cell phone to a reporter from The Free Press. Representatives of each winning city cheered as their names were called.

"This place is crazy," Wanda Jordan, director of The Gate, said. "We are so excited."

Jordan and Brenda Griffin of Little by Little praised the children for their role in Kinston's 10-minute presentation for the League judges.

"They are wonderful," Jordan said. "They did a great job."

Griffin said she felt "wonderful right now, absolutely wonderful, so very proud of our town, so very proud of my children who were here and did a wonderful job representing our city."

Little by Little participant Breana Govan also gave her thoughts.

"I felt proud of my town; I feel proud of myself because I did a good job."

Tavon Green of The Gate simply said of his team's performance:

"It was wonderful, no, it was great."

The delegation of Kinston's All-America City effort will return to town today after flying from Tampa to Raleigh. Stevens estimated that the group will arrive in Kinston at approximately 2 p.m. today at Grainger Stadium, where a welcoming party will greet them.

Residents of Kinston are encouraged to greet and congratulate the delegation when it arrives at Grainger Stadium, Stevens said.

The win is the second for Kinston, which took home All-America City status in 1988. Kinston was a finalist for the award in 1997.

David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.

The following communities won the 2009 All-America City award Friday:

1. Fort Wayne, Ind.
2. Statesville, N.C.
3. Inglewood, Calif.
4. Somerville, Mass.
5. Phoenix, Ariz.
6. Wichita, Kan.
7. Albany, N.Y.
8. KINSTON, N.C.
9. Caroline County, Va.
10. Richmond, Ind.

Kinston's All-America City delegation will return to town around 2 p.m. today, arriving at Grainger Stadium. For up-to-the-minute updates on what time the delegation returns to town, check out www.Kinston.com after noon today.