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Scott Desormeaux

Abbeville's Scott Desormeaux no longer top National Guard commander

He was relieved of command duty after allegedly violating Military rules

Written by the ArmyTimes

The Louisiana National Guard has relieved the commander of its 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the state’s historic Jackson Barracks, located in east New Orleans, Army Times has learned.
In response to emailed questions from Army Times, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Guard, Lt. Col. Noel Collins, confirmed the state’s top general, Maj. Gen. D. Keith Waddell, removed Col. Scott Desormeaux from his role leading the state’s historic Tiger Brigade on Wednesday.
Desormeaux is an Abbeville native.
The move was “effective immediately,” Collins added.
Desormeaux was relieved after an administrative investigation “found that COL Desormeaux sent inappropriate text messages to other service members,” the spokesperson said. An Army Regulation 15-6 investigating officer’s “findings...substantiated violations of” the Louisiana Code of Military Justice’s rules against conduct unbecoming an officer and undermining good order and discipline.
Desormeaux did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Army Times.
The colonel had commanded the infantry brigade in his part-time capacity since November 2019, according to his LinkedIn profile, and his role overseeing Jackson Barracks began in March 2022.
Collins noted that Desormeaux presided over the 256th IBCT’s “successful” 2020-2021 deployment to Iraq, Syria and other countries in the Central Command area of responsibility. During the same period, a contingent from the brigade went to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the federally controlled Guard mission to assist the Department of Homeland Security there.
Col. Jon Lloyd will take over as the 256th IBCT’s new commander, according to Collins. Desormeaux will become the state’s training coordinator and director of doctrine and education.

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Mr. Frank Wynerth Summers III

Miss Clara Marie Duhon becomes Mrs. Frank Wynerth Summers III

Miss Clara Marie Duhon and Mr. Frank Wynerth Summers III, both of Abbeville, were united in Holy Matrimony during an 11:00 a.m. nuptial mass on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville, LA. Concelebrating the ceremony were Rev. Edward J. Duhon, Jr., brother of the bride, and Rev. Charles “Billy” Massie, cousin of the groom.
The bride is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Duhon, Sr. Her mother was the former Dorphi Marie Lee of Erath, LA. The groom is the son of Mrs. Genie Marie Gremillion
Summers and the late Mr. Frank W. Summers II, both of Abbeville.
Escorted by her brother, Clenes A. Duhon, the bride wore a floor length champagne sheath dress with an ivory tulle beaded overlay. A chapel-length veil trimmed with crystal and pearl beading completed the ensemble. The bride carried a cascading bouquet of roses in cream, blush, and varying shades of red, as well as hydrangeas, which were her mother’s favorite, and
eucalyptus.
Gillian D. Migues, sister of the bride, served as matron of honor. Danielle D. Stewart and Dominique Duhon, nieces of the bride, served as bridesmaids. They each wore a v-neck dress with a crisscross waistband, mesh overskirt, and flutter sleeves in wine and carried a nosegay of cream roses. Josie Hindelang, niece of the groom, served as flower girl. She wore an ivory scalloped v-back lace dress with an A-line flowing skirt, wine sash, and a bow at the back. Josie carried a small basket of red and cream roses.
Simon Summers, brother of the groom, served as best man. Groomsmen were Joseph Summers, brother of the groom, and Jude Meaux, friend of the groom. Eli Hindelang, nephew of the groom, and Jordan Stewart, nephew of the bride, served as ushers. Zach Migues, nephew & godson of the bride, served as ring bearer. They all wore gray tuxedoes with wine bow ties and vests.
The mother of the groom was escorted by her grandson, Eli Hindelang. She wore a dress of deep green with a matching jacket.
Liturgical readers were Sarah Granger, Susanna Vanvickle, and Mary Hindelang, sisters of the groom. Offertory gifts were carried by Randy Duhon, godfather of the bride, and Steve Kroeger, friend of the groom. Altar servers were Anthony Summers and Benjamin Summers, nephews of the groom.
Music was provided by Jay Riedl (soloist, friend of the bride), Tommy Guidry (organist), Jared Gray (trumpeter), and Emil Ivanov (violinist).
A reception was help immediately following the ceremony at Stillwater Catholic Retreat Center.
After a Caribbean cruise for their honeymoon the couple will make their home in Abbeville.

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Loretta Elizabeth Baum Giglio

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette, Louisiana, for Loretta Baum Giglio, age 92, who passed from this life to the next on Saturday, November 19, 2022, surrounded by those she loved and who loved her.
The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille's DOWNTOWN location on Monday, November 21, 2022 from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 PM. Visitation will continue at Martin & Castille’s DOWNTOWN location on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 8:00 AM until the time of the Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM. Entombment will follow in St. John Cathedral Cemetery Mausoleum.
Loretta was born on October 4, 1930, in New Roads, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Joseph C. Giglio, Sr., whom she loved so dearly and missed so greatly since his passing on March 23, 2021. Loretta was also preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert and Lois Baum, and a brother, John Gilbert Baum. She is survived by a sister, Nelda Baum Beaud, and a brother, Bernard “Pap” Baum, both of New Roads, Louisiana.
Loretta attended College of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic Boarding College in Grand Coteau, where she earned her degree and met the love of her life, her husband of almost 70 years, Joseph C. Giglio, Sr. After she graduated from Sacred Heart and he graduated from Southwest Louisiana Institute (now UL Lafayette), the couple moved to Greenwood, Mississippi, where they lived for five years. There, Loretta was a math teacher while her husband started his career with Pfizer Inc. Then, Pfizer moved them to Lafayette where they lived continuously since 1957, raising their three children. She was an artist, seamstress, great dancer, and wonderful mother. She was a devoted Catholic and active parishioner and supporter of Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Her daughters and daughter-in-law affectionately refer to her as their Queen Bee.
The greatest love of her life was her late husband Joseph C. Giglio, Sr., devoted husband, and father of her three children, all of whom survive her, namely: Joseph C. Giglio, Jr., married to Deborah Dupuy Giglio; Loretta Ann Giglio, married to Bryan Neal Dronet, Sr.; and Marie Elizabeth Giglio, married to Glen Olivier Raggio.
Loretta was especially proud of her ten grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren who survived her: Joseph C. Giglio, III, married to Margaret “Peggy” Perry Giglio, and their children, Joseph C. “Charlie” Giglio, IV and Kellen Margaret Giglio; Kathryn Giglio, married to Lance Strother, and their children, Madeline Grace “Maddy” Strother, Landon Grady Strother, and Gracie Elizabeth Strother; Lori Giglio, married to Shawn Carter, and their children Isabel Carmen “Izzy” Carter and Callie Elizabeth Carter; David Giglio, married to Brooke Latiolais Giglio, and their children, Caroline Ella Giglio, Owen Thomas Giglio, Andrew David Giglio, and Elizabeth Kate Giglio; Linda Giglio, married to Derek Foreman, and their children, Gabriel Joseph Foreman, Clare Catherine Foreman, Anna Grace Foreman, and Luke Michael Foreman; Renée Dronet, married to Seth Rounsaville, and their children, Ty Rounsaville and Chloe Rounsaville; Bryan Neal Dronet, Jr., married to Annie Pecue Dronet, and their son, Christian Dronet; and Alyson Dronet and her son Thomas Dronet; Glen Olivier Raggio, Jr., married to Mindy Cobb Raggio, and their children Hope Lavonne Raggio and Ava Grace Raggio; and James Raggio, married to Kaysha Cormier Raggio, and their son Jackson Paul Raggio.
Pallbearers will be Joseph Giglio, III, David Giglio, Neal Dronet, Glen Raggio, Jr, James Raggio, Brett Robillard, Herb Billings, and Gino Soprano.
Honorary pallbearers are Rodney Robillard, Jr., Paul Billings, Chad Soprano, Don Webb, Kenny Self, Amy Self, and Jude Bourque.
The family is extremely grateful for the service of Loretta’s caregivers, Elmo Breaux, Abby Thomas, Helen Cormier, Becky Senegal, Karen Rabalais, Jennifer Gary, Paulette Scott, Sonya Jones, and Tonya Broussard, Hospice of Acadiana, and Kent Zeringue and all his volunteers with Hospice’s Food with Love Ministry.
Memorial contributions can be made in Mrs. Giglio’s name to the Academy of the Sacred Heart, 1821 Academy Road, Grand Coteau, LA 70541; Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 515 Cathedral Street, Lafayette, LA 70501; the Holy Family / Teurlings Scholarship Fund, 200 St. John Street, Lafayette, LA 70501; or Hospice of Acadiana Food With Love Ministry, 2600 Johnston Street Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin & Castille, DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311, is in charge of arrangements.

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Kelly John Duplantis, Jr.

DELCAMRE —A Funeral Service will be held for Kelly John Duplantis, Jr., age 45, at 11:00 am on Monday, November 21, 2022 at Evangeline Funeral Home. Deacon Marty Cannon will officiate. Kelly will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery following the services.
The family requested that visitation be observed on Sunday, November 20, 2022 from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the funeral Home. The Men’s Rosary Group will pray the rosary at 7:00 pm. The funeral home will reopen at 8:00 am on Monday until service time.
Born on September 2, 1977 in Abbeville, LA. He was a graduate of Delcambre High School and then went on to pursue a successful career as a diesel mechanic in the oilfield industry. He was currently employed with US Aqua Services.
A loving father, son, brother, uncle and fiancé, Kelly cherished the time spent with his family.
Kelly enjoyed being outdoors and spending time on the water fishing. He was known for his sweet tooth and often enjoyed Little Debbie cakes with milk.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his twin children, Kaleb Duplantis and Kylee Grace Duplantis and their mother, Tara Duplantis; his step-children, Kyle and Kolby Bourgeois; his mother, Eva Gary Duplantis and Nathan Cormier; his father, Joe Ledwig; his sister, Mabel Duplantis; his fiance’ Alicia Bourgeois; one niece, Madison Boudreaux and Bruno Lowe and three great nieces, Leirah, Lezley and Lyzah Louviere.
Kelly is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Leonce Gary and Rose Bourque Gary and his Paternal Grandparents, Julian Duplantis and June Bourque Duplantis.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are Kaleb Duplantis, Nathan Cormier, Bruno Lowe, Rodney Bazer, Sonny Gary and Joshua Gary. Josh Deville and Chance Louviere will be honorary pallbearers.
To view the on-line obituary, movie presentation and sign the online guest register, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.
Evangeline Funeral Home of Delcambre is in charge of arrangements.

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Dior Juelz Cormier

August 17, 2021 - November 13, 2022

ABBEVILLE — Funeral Services for Dior Juelz Cormier, 14 months, will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at St. Mary Congregational Church with Pastor Kevin Williams officiating. Interment will follow at St. Paul Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at St. Mary Congregational Church on November 19, 2022 beginning at 9:00AM until the time of service.
Dior “Noona” Cormier was born to Jaylor Peters and De’Undrick Cormier on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 in Lafayette, Louisiana. Dior passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2022 at Our Lady of The Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Dior leaves to cherish her beloved memory forever her mother Jaylor Peters and her father De’Undrick Cormier; her siblings Jazaiden Peters, Rhilyan Peters, Kash Peters, De’Undrick Cormier, Jr. and De’Leon Cormier; her maternal grandparents Sharla Peters (Jerran) and Travis Harrison; her paternal grandmother Renitha Cormier; her maternal great-grandparents Hamilton and Foster Lea Peters; her paternal great-grandmother Lucy Mae Cormier; nine aunts Jada Peters, Jerriah Diggs, Jakyra Diggs, Tari Windmon, Kimberly Harrison, Lakeisha (Jermaine) Lewis, Sha’na’drienne Cormier, Travelle (Christopher) Campbell and Shalamekia (Brandon) Greene; seven uncles JaCarien Diggs, Rico Cormier, Jorey Windmon, Travis Cooper, Jordan Windmon, Killian Windmon and Jawuan (Cassie) Windmon. Dior was also survived by her godfather Spencer Cormier; her godmothers Jhori Peters and Kristy Brown; and a host of great aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends.
Dior is preceded in death by her paternal grandfather Leonard Cormier; her aunts Kyla Mouton, Jadah Peters, Jerrah Diggs, Jerrin Diggs, La’Shaun Cormier and Cheryl Thibeaux; and two uncles La’da’drien, De’Shaun..
Serving as pallbearers will be Jazaiden Peters, Jerriah Diggs, De’Undrick Cormier, Jr. and Khyleigh Smith.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Rhilyan Peters, Kash Peters, Rhilee Peters, Genre Williams, Paisley Williams, De’Leon Cormier, Rico Cormier, Jr., Kali Smith, Riley Gautreaux, Harper Gautreaux, JaCarien Diggs, Kendrianna Cormier and Kendrick Cormier.
David Funeral Home of Abbeville 2600 Charity Street Abbeville, La 70510, (337) 893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.

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Thelma Lynn Reed

ERATH — Memorial Services for Ms. Thelma Lynn Reed, 61, will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath, LA on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 10:00AM. Interment will be immediately following the service at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church from 9:00AM until time of services.
A resident of Erath, Ms. Thelma passed away at her home on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
She enjoyed her nursing career, comforting others, being outdoors catering to her plants, margaritas, and Maine Coon cats. She loved bragging about her children and grandchildren.  She was most excited about her two new cats, her grandbabies on the way, and her devoted and selfless fiancé. 
She is survived by her fiancé, Tony Derouen of Erath; her children, Heidi Casselman Nowicki (and her husband Scott) of Broussard, Gordon Heath Casselman (and his wife Amanda) of Frederick, MD, Sarah Casselman Navarre (and her husband Joshua) of Youngsville, Quinton Daniel Wilkinson (and his fiancé Sierra Landry) of New Iberia, and Allie Marissa Wilkinson (and her significant other Axel Szczepaniak ) of Baton Rouge; her brother, Leon Reed, Jr. (and his wife Lynda) of Minden; her three grandchildren Logan, Noah, and Jonah;  her two grandchildren that are on the way; and her godchild Crystal Lynn Gary Dirk.  
She is preceded in death by her parents, Leon Reed, Sr., and Nellie Comeaux Reed; her sister, Lovina Kay Reed Breaux, and her nephew Preston James Gary, Jr.
In recognition of the notable impact Ms. Thelma has had in her nursing career and time with her work family, her memory is being honored in the form of a scholarship program sponsored by Maison de Lafayette to provide funding for employees seeking to further their education in the field.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Erath 209 E. Putnam St. (337)937-0405 will be handling the arrangements.

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Both Drivers Killed in Iberia Parish Crash

IBERIA PARISH – At 4:45 p.m. on November 17, 2022, Louisiana State Police Troop I was notified of a two-vehicle crash on LA Highway 14 at Leleux Road in Iberia Parish.
The crash claimed the lives of 45-year-old Kelly J. Duplantis, Jr. of Delcambre and 54-year-old John B. Young, Jr. of Youngsville.
The preliminary investigation revealed Young was driving a 2019 Jeep Cherokee north on Leleux road, approached its intersection with LA 14 eastbound, proceeded to cross both eastbound lanes, and entered the westbound lanes of travel without yielding. At the same time, Duplantis was driving a 2012 GMC 2500 pickup westbound on LA 14 when his pickup struck the passenger side of Young’s Cherokee in the westbound lane of travel.
Troopers determined Duplantis was unrestrained and suffered fatal injuries. Young, despite being restrained, also suffered fatal injuries. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office.
Impairment is unknown, but toxicology samples were taken from both drivers for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Police would like to remind motorists to slow down and come to a complete stop in order to ensure no cross-traffic is present and ALWAYS wear your seat belt, regardless of seating position. Simple precautions such as these can often mean the difference between life and death.
Troop I has investigated 55 fatal crashes resulting in 61 deaths since the beginning of 2022.

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Vermilion Parish School District best in Acadiana Region

Erath High ranks as best public high school; Indian Bayou top elementary school in Vermilion Parish

The Vermilion Parish School System continued to lead the way in the Acadiana area for District Performance Scores as the Louisiana Department of Education released them on Wednesday.
Vermilion’s score of 89.2 led the area and garnered a Top 10 statewide district ranking. This score signified a slight growth from last year’s simulated SPS scores.
“We are happy with the outcomes, but we know we still have work to do as a district,” said Superintendent Tommy Byler. “Our overall district score is not quite where we were before Covid and two hurricanes affected our district, but we do feel like we are well on our way back to recovering and moving back up at the state level.”
Of the state’s 20 largest districts by student population, Vermilion is number 20, and the district’s SPS score ranked No. 2 overall. Only Ascension Parish had a higher SPS in the group of school systems.
As individual schools, Vermilion finished with 9 schools receiving an “A” rating, eight with a “B” rating, and three with a “D” rating.
“Our school rankings were a mix of some great accomplishments and a few schools we will need to continue working to improve our efforts,” added Byler. “Our administrators and teachers have done a great job of overcoming the obstacles thrown their way. “
• Erath High School led the way for Vermilion with a No. 6 overall ranking in high schools with a score of 113.6. This score put them holding on to the distinction of the #1 traditional school as the top 5 are selected admissions or magnet programs.
• Kaplan High School, No. 11 overall and No. 5 traditional and North Vermilion High School No. 16 traditional, achieved Top 20 status in the state’s 180 9-12 high schools.
• Indian Bayou Elementary claimed the top elementary score in the parish at 99.6. This was a No. 20 ranking of the 552 elementary schools.
• Erath Middle School was the parish’s top middle school scoring a 91.0. This was good enough for a #29 school ranking of the 288 middle schools in the state.
Vermilion had the distinction of being one of 20 systems with an overall A ranking in the growth component. In addition, Kaplan Elementary and Indian Bayou were ranked in the Top 25 of all schools in the state for growth.
“Growth is a huge component and a primary goal for all of our schools,” stated Byler. “It is our responsibility to reach all students, and this state recognition in the growth category shows that we are doing a great job.”
“ I just want to congratulate all of our stakeholders for these scores, but know that we will continue to work each and every day to continue and grow our students. Our kids are more than just a number, but when the numbers match the work effort, it does bring a sense of pride to all of our Vermilion parish communities,’ added Byler.

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Jeff Crouere

The misdirected GOP blame game

In the end, there was no red “tsunami,” “wave,” or even “trickle.” In fact, the 2022 midterm election was a major win for the Democratic Party. Usually, in a midterm election, the party in power suffers huge losses. It happened in 1994, 2010 and 2018.
It did not happen in 2022 despite the horror show being delivered by President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party. The country is suffering from historic inflation, a border invasion, massive increases in crime, a fentanyl epidemic, educational malpractice in our schools, as well as an array of other problems.
Polls showed that Americans understood the severity of the problems that we face. Still, Democrats prevailed in the U.S. Senate, flipped some governorships, and lost only a handful of seats in the U.S. House.
It is ludicrous to blame the election disappointment on President Donald Trump. He won over seventy-four million votes in 2020, the most of any GOP presidential nominee in American history. During his campaign, he was the only former Republican Party presidential nominee on the campaign trail trying to help his fellow GOP candidates. He held numerous rallies all over the country, energizing grassroots Republicans to support candidates running in the midterm election.
Where was the 2000 and 2004 GOP presidential nominee George W. Bush? Other than helping turncoat Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who was overwhelmingly defeated, Bush was absent.
Where was the Republican Party’s 2012 presidential nominee U.S. Senator Mitt Romney of Utah? He did nothing to help his party. In fact, he refused to support his fellow Republican U.S. Senator from Utah, Mike Lee, in his reelection battle against Evan McMullen, an “Independent,” former Trump-hating Republican. The wise voters of Utah rewarded Lee with another Senate term, rejecting the nonsense from McMullen and Romney.
The real loser in the midterm election was not Trump, it was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). He showered money on the party establishment’s favorite U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), while giving no help to her more conservative opponent.
In Arizona, McConnell’s Senate Leadership Fund cancelled $17.6 million in ad buys for GOP candidate Blake Masters. This decision destroyed any chance he had to win that close election. In the aftermath, Masters urged Republican Senators to “not vote Mitch McConnell into leadership. He doesn’t deserve to be majority leader or minority leader.”
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) echoed those comments about McConnell. He said that “we need new leadership in that position.” In addition, he claimed that an entirely new Republican Party is needed. He tweeted, “The old party is dead. Time to bury it. Build something new.”
What is representative of the old party is not only McConnell, but also House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. All three of these GOP leaders were labeled by Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL), “McFailure.”
During this election, President Trump was on the campaign trail reminding voters of his successful administration. He was also pointing out the disastrous results of the Biden administration. Unfortunately, he did not have any help from the Republican Party’s leadership.
While Republicans rightly criticized the calamity of the Biden administration, they were ineffective in informing voters about their agenda. There was no platform like “Contract with America” that helped Republicans win in 1994. While McCarthy and Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida offered plans of action, nothing was emphasized to voters.
Henceforth, part of any Republican Party plan must be a demand that voting return to Election Day. Absentee voting needs to be rare and mail-in voting, ballot harvesting and drop boxes must be eliminated.
It is outrageous that vote counting continued for days after the election in states such as Arizona, Pennsylvania, California, and Nevada. The longer the voting is extended, the less confidence there should be in the result.
As Republicans deal with missed opportunities of the 2022 election, it is very unwise to direct their anger at President Trump. He is the reason the Republicans are even competitive in any election.
When he became a candidate in 2015, he expanded the base of the Republican Party to include working class Americans who had been ignored for decades. His goal has always been to “Make America Great Again” and place our country first. Trump wants to return power to the American people and reduce the influence of the Deep State.
Therefore, he has been attacked mercilessly for seven years. He has taken this harassment for the American people as his love for our country is genuine. Trump is hated by power brokers who control this country and want the American people to be serfs, not free citizens.
As the fight for America continues, the Republican Party must not fall for the trap being set by the Democrats and the media.
If the GOP abandons the “MAGA” movement, the party will never seriously compete in any national election ever again.

Warnings from the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in Europe, Asia

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the war to end all wars ended.
World War I cost about nine million soldiers their lives with 21 million more wounded. Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia each lost a million or more lives in the grueling four and a half years marked by trench warfare, chemical warfare (mustard gas) and the first introduction of the airplane to the battlefield.
To put these losses in perspective, Great Britain’s population dropped below 40 million by 1917 for the first time since 1898. A weakened Tsar Nicolas in Russia was overthrown by communists led by Vladimir Lenin setting the stage for the Cold War which dominated the late 20th century. Germany’s defeat, the terms of their surrender and the rampant inflation that afflicted the German state (Weimar Republic) played a major role in the rise of Adolph Hitler and World War II.
The geography of the world was reshaped. The Ottoman Empire fell, effectively ending a millennium of war between Muslims and Christians in southern and central Europe and nation/states were drawn in the middle east out of its wreckage.
The British Empire which spanned every continent of the world was weakened and effectively collapsed in the decades following World War II.
America entered into our first European war, turning the tide against the Germans and became a major power on the world stage.
In the United States, we currently celebrate this day as Veteran’s Day. Originally known as Armistice Day, this is a day to celebrate veterans and remember those who fought to defend freedom.
But it is important that we also remember World War I on this day, as it is an even more important reminder of the danger of stumbling into a century defining conflict.
World War I set the tenor for the entire 20th century, today we can learn a very important lesson from it as it was also known as an inadvertent war.
The war happened even though none of the countries involved really wanted war. It was ignited by a series of competing alliances in Europe being triggered by the killing of the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian. This led to countries allied with the Austro-Hungarian empire fighting those with treaties with Serbia (through their treaty with Russia) fueled by a domino-like effect of alliances with hostilities starting in 2014.
The United States entered the War in 2017 after re-electing President Woodrow Wilson on his campaign brag that he was the man who kept us out of war. Almost as soon as the votes were cast, Wilson was the man who got us into the war, and America turned the tide toward Great Britain and France against Germany.
Today, the world faces the potential of an even more devastating inadvertent war. A war that would be truly global and exponentially more destructive than the first or second World Wars.
Ukraine sits at the middle of this powder keg.
Russia attacked Ukraine in an attempt to regain territory, wealth and prestige lost after the fall of the Soviet Union. Russian allies include Iran, North Korea, China and most probably its vassal states around the world most likely including many communist states in South and Central America like Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and most probably Colombia, and Brazil with the recent dubious election of a communist leader. It can also be presumed that the drug cartels and their soldiers who have infiltrated the United States would ally with China which is its primary fentanyl supplier. Ukraine’s allies are the remainder of Europe, the United States and those allied with the U.S. against Russia and China from the Cold War including Japan, South Korea and Australia.
A truly global war that would pit men against men on every continent where no one would truly be a civilian untouched by war on their doorsteps could throw us back into a new dark-ages.
All with the battle for control of the northern shores of the Black Sea as the potential catalyst.
There are no easy solutions to the war in Ukraine. Russia attacked a sovereign nation. A nation that they vowed to have peace with just three decades prior in order to have nuclear weapons stationed in Ukraine returned to Russia for destruction. America signed on as a guarantor of that peace and now it is broken.
Europe is plunging into the cold months of winter with its green agenda and subsequent dependence upon Russia for natural gas. The environmentalist policy of energy dependency embraced on the continent that led to Russia holding an energy cudgel over their heads is now creating a worldwide oil and natural gas price spike with waves effecting the entire globe. Bloomberg writes that the results of having to buy natural gas wherever they can find it could create scarcity, black outs and increased energy poverty in the world’s poorest countries leading to increased starvation and death from other causes.
The Ukrainian War is complicated with ramifications that go far beyond this country the size of Texas, and it is time that Americans have an honest national discussion about our policy rather than shouting down anyone who cautions against knee-jerk escalation as being Russian propagandists.
Knee-jerk escalation is what gave us World War I as nations warred against one another for reasons that seem inconceivable today.
It is likely that the U.S. Congress will be asked to send billions more of support and arms to the Ukrainian government in the weeks and months ahead. It would be nice if someone thought to have a real discussion with the Biden administration about their exit strategy and contingency actions that need to be taken to strengthen our nation to deter what seems like an increasingly inevitable war between an emboldened China and its allies and the U.S. and ours.
Rather than depleting the West’s military capability to meet Ukraine’s needs, Congress might just consider how to strengthen our capacity to meet the growing threat across the Pacific.
Rather than drawing down the Strategic Petroleum Reserves and blind worship at the altar of the environmental lobby, Congress needs to insist on a domestic energy production policy which grows our refining, pipeline, fossil fuel and coal production to restore energy independence for national security purposes.
And rather than continuing the expansion of our $31 trillion national debt, Congress needs to roll back the massive regular government spending increases which have been put in place over the last two years. If the world economic system is broken by war, this debt will be the noose around America’s neck.
Finally, an inability and unwillingness to defend our own borders is the most obvious short-term knife at the throat of America’s ability to meet the 21st century national defense challenges. Failure to close our border to illegal alien trafficking now is effective surrender in the years ahead.
We just had an election.
Republicans will be in control of the House of Representatives and possibly have a one-seat majority in the Senate. It is time that whoever is the Speaker of the House lead an honest strategic plan in conjunction with the Biden administration and the Senate to use the power of the purse to prepare America for the war that approaches in the hopes that through strength it is avoided.
Hopefully a new start in Washington, D.C. will lead to rational planning and discourse over the future of our nation rather than demonization of those who dare ask if we are repeating the errors that led to World War I.
We can learn a lot from the first World War. On this day, which reminds us of that much forgotten war from a century ago, let’s hope modern politicians remember its lessons.

Rick Manning is the President of Americans for Limited Government.

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