THEIR VIEWS

Welcome them back

with profound admiration

The South Carolina Army National Guard's 218th Brigade Combat Team is coming home - and not on mere leave. The team began its final return from a year-long mission in Afghanistan recently, with about a tenth of its ranks warmly welcomed at Pope Air Base, N.C. ....

Unfortunately, not all of the 218th survived this dangerous assignment. Last October, Sgt. Edward Philpot, 22, of Latta died in a convoy accident. A week later, Staff Sgt. James Bullard, 28, of Marion was killed in an insurgent attack. Early this year, Sgt. Shawn Hill, 37, of Wellford died of wounds suffered from the explosion of an insurgent bomb.

Those three men made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. ...

America's all-volunteer modern armed forces could not fulfill their far-flung obligations without the dedication and skill of its citizen-soldiers in the National Guard and Reserves.

The members of the South Carolina 218th, like other South Carolinians bravely serving across a wide range of indispensable military roles in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, have earned our profound admiration. Welcome them home to the Palmetto State as what they are - heroes of our time.

The (Charleston) Post and Courier

Visions of peach cobbler

and strawberry shortcake

Close your eyes and think of strawberries and peaches. It won't be long before these much-anticipated and locally grown treasures will begin arriving at fruit stands across the state. And that's a big relief after last year's tragic late freeze that claimed just about every peach blossom and strawberry plant in the state.

York County farmers had a scare near the end of last month. An overnight freeze on March 26 had everyone worried that this year's crop might be nipped as well.

Thankfully, both peach trees and berry plants came through in good shape. While the temperatures did dip below freezing, it didn't stay cold enough, long enough to do much harm. ...

We don't want to speak too soon this year, but we do have visions of peach cobbler and strawberry shortcake dancing in our heads. Let's hope Mother Nature is through tormenting us with late freezes.

The (Rock Hill) Herald