Kinston, Lenoir County Welcome Goodwin to Groundbreaking

State Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin Delivers Remarks for New Woodmen of the World Community Center

Yesterday the town of Kinston and Lenoir County joined Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and State Auditor Beth Wood at the groundbreaking for a new community center. With a massive American flag displayed behind them in the blazing midday sun, the special guests and local officials each waxed eloquent on how the $6 million investment will refurbish and re-energize an area buffeted like others from the recent economic downturn.

Joining them were Chamber of Commerce leaders, State Representative Van Braxton, former and current employees of Smithfield Foods, and many area citizens.

For more coverage, go to today's article in The Kinston Free Press, linked here.

Commissioner Goodwin's brief remarks honed in on a key tenet of the celebration.

Thank you, Kinston and Lenoir County, and our Woodmen of the World organization, for inviting me to be here this morning!

Yes, indeed, it is a grand occasion and an honor to be part of this groundbreaking ceremony.

As a member of the Council of State, and as a fellow Woodman, I am proud of what this new facility is about.

But, it is more than that: This new facility underscores and epitomizes what Woodmen are all about - before, ever, and always: faith and family, children and youth, community and country.
Our Woodmen of the World are dedicated to each.

And as state Insurance Commissioner I also want to share with you that our Woodmen of the World here in North Carolina, a fraternal organization regulated in part by my office, holds a special place in the hearts of employees of the Department of Insurance.

On behalf of the great State of North Carolina and her people, thank you to all who have helped make this dream come true. And may God continue to bless Kinston, Lenoir County and eastern North Carolina.

This is the second time in less than two months that Goodwin made an official visit to Kinston: He threw the ceremonial first pitch for a game of the Kinston Indians baseball team this season.

Without a doubt, Goodwin is a strong proponent of Eastern North Carolina, stretching back throughout his many years in the North Carolina General Assembly and as a statewide elected official.