On September 5, 2008, in a statement of support for the nations military men and women, US Congressman Robin Hayes and local dignitaries, including Fayetteville Mayor Anthony G. Chavonne, declared Fayetteville/Cumberland County, NC the Worlds First Sanctuary for Soldiers and Their Families, at a groundbreaking ceremony at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Armory and Museum. Chavonne spoke of the connection his city has with the military when he described Fayetteville as a place where we not only salute the flag and all that it means but, more importantly, we understand the sacrifice, we feel the pain and we share the pride in being a military town.