CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Not everybody agrees with Gen. John Stark. Or with state Sen. Robert Letourneau, for that matter.

In 1809, Stark coined “Live Free or Die,” a motto that was officially adopted as the state’s own in 1945.

Ten days ago, Letourneau successfully pushed a bill through the Senate that would add the motto to all state highway welcome signs.

Letourneau, a Republican from Derry, said New Hampshire natives, as well as tourists, should be reminded of Stark’s heroics at the 1777 Battle of Bennington in Vermont every time they cross the border.

And some residents, including native George Craggy, said they’re all for another display of the state’s fiery phrase.

“Yes, we live free or die,” said Craggy, 59, of Concord, who was watching a basketball game at the VFW hall Saturday afternoon. “It’s part of our persona. That’s what we all believe in.”

Others, however, said they’d gladly trade the motto for something else. Some suggestions: “Live, Freeze and Die.” “Small is Beautiful.” Or a return to the state’s one-time tourism slogan, “Scenic New Hampshire,” which was axed in 1971.

Sam Coes, a 38-year-old native from Rumney, was among the dissenters.

“There’s nothing free in New Hampshire,” he said while skating at White Park in Concord. “We all pay taxes.”

Heather Baldwin, 57, of Thornton, was quick with a comeback.

“The clean air is free. The black flies are free,” she said.

Her husband’s defense was a bit more extreme.

“I’ve lived here for 68 years,” said Gunner Baldwin. “If they change it, I’ll move to Vermont.”

One Vermonter interviewed Saturday said he wouldn’t mind a few transplants. But Charlie Rowland, 31, of Wolcott, Vt., said folks from the Green Mountain state aren’t clambering to move next door, even if New Hampshire does have the best motto in the nation.

“I like the slogan,” Rowland said. “But Vermont is happy with who we are.”

Joan O’Connor, the 54-year-old proprietor of Joan’s Famous Composting Worms in Henniker, said she’d prefer New Hampshire revive the tourism motto it had when she moved here as a college student in 1971. She liked the state’s scenic identity – and she hasn’t been too thrilled with what it’s come up with since.

First came the French-Canadian-friendly “Bienvenue” highway welcome signs. Then, last May, Gov. John Lynch unveiled a new tourism slogan – “You’re Going to Love it Here” – and a plan to replace the old signs. Public outcry ensued, and the state Department of Transportation agreed to incorporate both sayings onto the new signs, which also feature a New England village motif.

So far, five new highway signs have gone up. O’Connor said she can’t justify spending more money to tack on the “Live Free or Die.” Besides, she said, the motto is hypocritical since it’s the state prisoners who stamp the license plates with the famous quote.

“All my friends from out of state say, Oh, Live Free or Die’ is so great,”‘ O’Connor said. “But then I tell them that it’s the prisoners who make them (license plates). It takes them a minute, but then they say Ohhhhh.”‘

Neil Nevins, co-owner of MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, said he’s covered the “Live Free or Die” on his license plates, though he wouldn’t say how.

“You can’t see it,” Nevins said. “I just think they could come up with something more inviting.”

Nineteen-year-old Ryan Gardner of Franklin doesn’t really have strong feelings about the motto. He, too, thinks it’s a bit hypocritical, but he still tattooed “L.F.O.D.” on the inside of his lower lip last Friday. The L and the F are on one side of his silver lip ring and the O and D are on the other.

Gardner said he chose the tattoo from a list of 10 possibilities, including “Freedom” and “Gardner.”

“I just wanted something in there,” he said.

AP-ES-03-06-06 0958EST