EDIUSAIAFAD: Local motto starts gaining notice nationally Published Dec. 7, 2009 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War, Warner Robins physician Dr. Dan Callahan wanted a way to honor Robins Airmen during a time when troops were being spat on as they returned home. Between seeing patients, he would scribble down different phrases until he finally came up with "Every Day in Middle Georgia is Air Force Appreciation Day," better known by its acronym, EDIMGIAFAD. Businesses started putting it on their signs, letterhead and business cards. People put it on bumper stickers. It was even, most notably, put in the form of shrubbery that spells the letters alongside Watson Boulevard. A few years ago, however, as Robins started taking on more missions, Callahan and other local leaders thought it would be better to change the "Air Force" in the phrase to the all-encompassing "Armed Forces." Now, the phrase is going through an even more dramatic transition. "It occurred to me we ought to think about going statewide and maybe even nationwide," Callahan said. "We wanted to change the slogan a bit to reflect that." So he thought instead that it should be Every Day in USA is Armed Forces Appreciation Day. Some local and state leaders have jumped on the idea and now EDIMGIAFAD, after 31 years as a big part of Warner Robins' identity, is being replaced by EDIUSAIAFAD. Harder to pronounce, yes, but supporters are hoping to turn it into a nationwide sign of support for the military. "It's just the right thing to do to show our appreciation," said Ronnie Sanders, Flint Energies vice president of military and community affairs. He said the Georgia Electric Membership Corp. has latched onto the idea and will display the slogan with a banner and possibly bumper stickers on the Flint trucks. Supporters have reserved a Web site, www.ediusaiafad.com, to promote the idea. Although they are working on copywriting the slogan to prevent any alternations, Sanders said people are welcome to download the art from the site and use it to make bumper stickers, banners, t-shirts, or whatever else that they might want to display. Businesses are asked to display the new slogan on their signs, and, yes, they will even try to get the shrubbery changed. The shrubbery, on a hillside next to Watson Boulevard at Corder Road, is owned by Houston Healthcare. Sanders said Houston Healthcare will be asked to change the shrubbery, although he wasn't sure exactly how difficult that might be. If people think the acronym is too cumbersome, that might also be part of its charm. Sanders he thinks it's part of the reason that the original one became so popular. "People, even the military, see it they say 'What in the world is that?'" he said. "For a long time nobody really spelled it out because they wanted people to ask about it."