POPLARVILLE —
In the 11th month, the 11th day, and at the 11th hour, of the year 1918 WWI ended. In the minds of the American people, it was fought to end all wars. Unfortunately, a second world war occurred in which more than four hundred thousand soldiers died. Armistice Day was renamed "Veteran's Day" in order to pay tribute and honor all who had served in America's wars. President Eisenhower signed the bill proclaiming November 11 as Veteran's Day.
On Veteran's Day the brave souls who fought to protect our nation are honored and the values they fought for are remembered. The number of the soldiers who died in action is mind numbing and deeply depressing:
In the American Revolution, the War for Independence, 290,000 fought and 4,000 died in action.
In the War of 1812- 287,000 fought and 2,000 died in action.
In the Indian Wars- 106,000 fought and 1,000 died in action.
In the Mexican War- 79,000 fought and 13,000 died in action.
In the Civil War, The War Between the States, - 2,213,000 Union soldiers fought and 364,000 died in action. 1,000,000 Confederate soldiers fought and 133,821 died in action.
In the Spanish-American War- 392,000 fought and 11,000 died in action.
In World War I- 4,744,000 fought and 116,000 died in action.
In World War II- 16,535,000 fought and 406,000 died in action.
In the Korean Conflict- 6,807,000 fought and 55,000 died in action.
In the Vietnam Era- 9,200,000 fought and 58,148 died in action.
In the Gulf War Era- 3,800,000 fought and 9,000 died in action.
The casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan from 3-19-03 to the present amount to over 5000 dead and counting.
The Civil War was America's costliest war in loss of human life. Historian Drew Gilpin Faust writes that the deaths of the Civil War soldiers was six times that of World War II, when adjusted against the size of the American population. Faust is the president of Harvard University, where she also holds the Lincoln Professorship in History. In her recent book, “This Republic of Suffering,” she wrote:
"In the middle of the nineteenth century, the United States embarked on a new relationship with death, entering into a civil war that proved bloodier than any other conflict in American history, a war that would presage the slaughter of World War I Western Front and the global carnage of the twentieth century. The number of soldiers who died between 1861 and 1865, an estimated 620,000, is approximately equal to the total American fatalities in the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War combined.
As the new southern nation struggled for survival against a wealthier and more populous enemy, its death toll reflected the disproportionate strains on its human capital. Confederate men died at a rate three times that of their Yankee counterparts; one in five white southern men of military age did not survive the Civil War."
The Civil War decimated the South. Dr. Faust describes what happened in these words.:
"The war killed civilians .as battles raged across farm and field, as encampments of troops spread epidemic disease, as guerrillas ensnared women and even children in violence and reprisals, as draft rioters targeted innocent citizens, as shortages of food in parts of the South brought starvation. The distinguished Civil War historian James McPherson has estimated that there were fifty thousand civilian deaths during the war, and he has concluded that the overall mortality rate for the South exceeded that of any country in World War I and that of all but the region between the Rhine and the Volga in World War II."
The death of President Lincoln was tragic beyond measure for the South because he did not live to carry out his humanitarian plans for reconstruction. His counsel to the military governor of Richmond was to "let them down easy." Lincoln would not listen to a harsh word about the South, not even its leaders. When a friend once remarked to him that Jefferson Davis ought to be hung his response was a quote from the Bible-"Judge not that ye be not judged". Clearly, his plans to rebuild the nation would have looked like the kind of reconstruction America gave to Germany and Japan after WW II.
As our brave soldiers are fighting and dying in distant lands the citizens of the United States are deciding the future of the traditional family, the sacred nature of human life, religious liberty and justice for every individual. Let us pray that America's national leadership will honor the traditions of America as they plan for the future of our country. These are the principles our veterans fought for in the past and these principles remain the basis of our nation's future.
May God bless and preserve our nation.
Lifestyles
Veteran’s Day 2012: A day to reflect on sacrifices and values
- Lifestyles
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- 2013 Partners for Pearl River County By Jodi Marze The 10th class of Partners for Pearl River County celebrated its graduation at First Baptist Church on Friday, May 10, in the Fellowship Hall. The graduating class included: Jason Bounds, Nacole Dillon, Christy Goss, John Huck, Jeff McClain, Teenia Perry, Paul Reese, Brooke Rester, Eric Stafne, Richelle Stafne, Kristin Thibodeaux, Pat Tidmore, and Jim Walker. The staff is comprised of: Jo Woods, Tricia Knight, Shirley Wiltshire, Marilyn Bailey, Rod Lincoln and Scott Langlois (Program Chairman).
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Tami Harris takes state
Local business owner and community volunteer Tami Harris has won the coveted title of 2012 Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs-Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs (MFWC) Club Woman of the Year for the state of Mississippi. A member of the Civic Woman’s Club of Picayune, Harris is one of only three club members, along with Darlene Adams and Leslie Lincoln, to take the state title.
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Arboretum Paths
Last week, students participating in the 2013 Mississippi Master Naturalist Program visited the Crosby Arboretum for an all-day training. The session was part of 40 hours of field and classroom instruction they will receive, educating them about natural resource management and environmental stewardship, and is a part of their preparation to become Certified Mississippi Master Naturalists.
- Chamber Ribbon Cutting Children's International Medical Group held a grand opening and Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at their first Mississippi location, located in Picayune.
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Historic City Hall Dedication Friday
Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. the New City Hall will be dedicated on Goodyear Boulevard. This event will coincide with the 75th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Old Historic City Hall building.
- PRC Community Band presents: An American Legacy The Pearl River County Community Band, under the direction of Johnny Baker, will present “An American Legacy: An afternoon of American music for concert bands,” on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the Picayune Memorial High School Auditorium.
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Arboretum Paths
On their recent tour, fifth grade students from Lamar Christian School in Purvis encountered a seemingly endless variety of wildlife, ranging from crawfish to inchworms, to writhing masses of spiny, newly-emerged caterpillars. There is no such thing as a “typical” walk around the Arboretum’s Pond Journey and Pitcher Plant Bog. Every venture reveals something new to every group of visitors.
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Beebe returns to Main Street
“I was excited when the Picayune Main Street, Inc. Board of Directors asked me to return as manager to the local Main Street program. Also, extremely grateful to Picayune City Manager Jim Luke, Mayor Ed Pinero and city council for their blessings and approval to relocate our office,” says Beebe. “One of my favorite sayings is ‘There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.’ I have to say, I had a blast working on committees, projects and events with the most dedicated staff and group of volunteers in Pearl River County from March 2005 to May 2010. I look forward to getting new committees in place and working with ‘seasoned’ volunteers as well as new volunteers who share the same passion and desire to keep Picayune moving forward.”
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15th Annual Rotary Fishing Rodeo held in McNeill
“We are all fortunate to play a small part in the joy we see in their faces when they get a bite on their line and see the fish they catch. My wife, Sharon, and I hosted it last year on our anniversary and we would not have had it any other way. It was a perfect day.”
— Rotarian Tony Paternostro -
Picayune Main Street relocates to Intermodal
Picayune Main Street, Inc. has relocated to the Intermodal Transportation and Tourism Center at 200 Hwy 11 South. With the change in location the organization is also shifting focus back to the four points of the Main Street Approach according to President Bill Edwards.
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