"Live Free or Die" has officially been New Hampshire's state motto since 1945, but the expression has been around since 1809, when Gen. John Stark wrote to his comrades from the Battle of Bennington to offer this toast: "Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils." Most New Hampshire citizens have worn the motto proudly because of its uniqueness and because they believe it speaks to the state's "assertive independence." But last summer, the Governor's Task Force for the Recruitment of Retention of a Young Workforce for the State of New Hampshire said it was time to "rebrand" the state and that the "Live Free or Die" motto did not convey a friendly message that would appeal to young people. The subject came up again recently on a PBS radio talk show, and The Conway Daily Sun has asked many of the candidates passing through if they think the motto should be changed. The immediate response in every case: absolutely not.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.