TAMPA — Eleven-year-old Michael Boykin grinned broadly as he made his way into the Southwest airplane around 7 a.m. Wednesday, a little nervous but far more excited, he said.

It was Michael, dad Tim, and sister Mikayla’s first time on an airplane, as well as 7-year-old Zion Parker, all presenters in Clinton’s All-America City bid.

“It was really neat,” Michael said after landing at the airport in sunny, and quite humid, Florida.

“I think I liked taking off the best ... the landing was a little rough, though,” he said, a broad smile spreading across his young face.

Sister Mikayala agreed. “I’m a little dizzy,” she said, as she made her way off the plane, holding tightly to her dad, her eyes wide with excitement.

Like her brother, Mikayla said the takeoff was far better than the landing, and while the flight was smooth, when the plane began its descent, she would glance at the window and then away, quickly, at once smiling and then somewhat pensive.

A few aisles toward the back of the plane, Zion was watching out the window, pointing to the clouds.

“He really liked looking at all those clouds,” Zion’s mother, Quisan said. “This has already been a great experience for him and Aliah, and we haven’t even landed yet.”

It is exactly those experiences, said Clinton city manager John Connet, that make the all-American City trip so worthwhile and the one thing, win or lose, that makes it memorable.

“One of the greatest things about going, is the opportunity it affords people to be a part of the whole All-America City experience. They are given the opportunity to do things, in many cases, they’ve never done before. That’s especially true of the children.”

Along with Connet and the youngsters, a group of about 28 other Clinton residents, all wearing their tropical blue AAC finalist t-shirts, made their way into the Tampa Marriott Wednesday, clapping and cheering, determined to make those at home proud of their efforts to earn another national title.

“We really want to win again,” Connet said. “These people have put a great deal of time and effort into the presentation we will make Friday morning ... winning will be the icing on the cake.

City Councilman Marcus Becton agrees.

“Certainly we want to win, but it’s so much more than just about the award. It’s about all these people coming together to make Clinton better,” Becton said.

And, he emphasized, it’s about the All-America experience, something that has to be witnessed to completely understand.

“It’s a tremendous experience, particularly for the kids and for those who’ve never been here before,” Becton said. “Doing this is important because it recognizes how our city pulls together and gets things done.

“It allows us to tell our story and to show people from across the country how Clinton’s residents work together to help people from all walks of life.... the diversity we incorporate and the way we care.”

After settling in, Clinton’s delegation headed to the afternoon orientation and anniversary celebration where they joined with representatives from 28 other cities, including nearby Benson and Kinston, to whoop and holler for their cities in what has been referred to as one big pep rally.

Zion, Aliah, Mikayla and Michael were all wide-eyed with wonder at the event as they clapped and sang along with hundreds of others to “This Land Is Your Land,”, as were most of the other Clinton delegates, many who have never been part of the All-America City experience before.

“This is wonderful,” said AAC committee member Patty Cherry. “The feeling you get being a part of this group and sharing Clinton’s wonderful story is hard to describe. It gets you right here,” she said, pointing to her mid-section.

Clinton cheered loudly as its name was called and applauded nearly as fiercely when the three other North Carolina cities in competition — Benson, Kinston and Statesville — were announced.

“It’s fun,” said Michael, “really fun.”

But after Wednesday night’s orientation, it was right to work for the Clinton group who rehearsed in the grand ballroom just after 7 p.m., the place where in just a day from now the will make their official presentation.

The 10 winners will be chosen later that night, in an awards ceremony at the Marriott.

“We’re here to win,” said Cherry, “but win or lose, we are here to let people know just how special Clinton and its people really are.

Watch for daily updates on the All-America City trip on our website at www.clintonnc.com and in the newspaper daily.