When I left home after graduating from Plymouth South High School in 2006 to attend Norwich University – the nation’s oldest private military college – I carried the values of this town deep in my heart. Plymouth gave me the foundation of who I am; the US Army refined it. Through my service in Afghanistan and Ukraine, I learned the true meaning of leadership, accountability, and service before self. And when the time came to part ways with the military, I knew exactly where I belonged – home. Returning six years ago, I found a town that had changed. And that’s okay. Change is inevitable. But how we respond to it will define our future – and serve as the foundation for generations to come.
Plymouth is undergoing a rapid transformation. We are witnessing the early stages of urbanization: rising development, increasing strain on infrastructure, and growing demands for thoughtful governance. This is a pivotal moment. We can either lean in and steward this transition with vision and maturity – or stand idle and let the town shape itself without our input, becoming the product of our collective apathy.
Meanwhile, our civic discourse is suffering. Disagreement is essential in a democracy, but the tone in Plymouth has shifted from passionate to poisonous. Death threats, personal attacks, and online smear campaigns have no place in public life. Public service should be met with scrutiny – not scorn. It shouldn’t take a flak jacket to serve your hometown. If we keep treating our neighbors who step up as targets, we will drive away the very people we need most.
We must also move past performative outrage. Holding a sign might feel good – but real change takes more than slogans. If you care about Plymouth, attend a meeting. Volunteer for a board. Run for a seat. Show up. Because progress doesn’t come from the sidelines – it comes from those willing to do the work.
Plymouth doesn’t need more outrage. It needs more ownership. Let’s raise the level of respect, turn down the volume of resentment, and remember that while our town may be changing, the responsibility for its future still belongs to all of us – together.
– Stevie Keith