My husband and I watched a movie this afternoon called “Thousand Cheers.” This movie was staged in World War II and brought to mind a time when America was great. This movie portrays various individuals in all walks of life. Not only were there soldiers ready for war, but also entertainers of all sorts. The movie features renowned singers, musicians, and Hollywood actors as well as ordinary people earning a living and even circus performers. It was a reminder that the seriousness of the moment and love for our country provided for one common goal. That goal was a victory over evil. Our country was united and patriotic. It was great. Watching the movie brought to my mind the acronym which has become very misunderstood by some people.The G in MAGA stands for great. It always has, despite the mocking and disrespect that term sometimes receives. Many Americans, I feel, would love to see America united and patriotic again. Although I firmly believe that America is the greatest country in the world and my first choice always, our country is by no means united as it was in the 1940’s. Since the present administration took charge in 2021, our country has had many changes and they have occurred swiftly. No news to anyone, everything costs more, Although I have always been a conservative shopper, buying groceries, household items, and gifts have become increasingly more challenging. Inflation keeps getting worse, but the large spending measures by the government contributing to inflation have not subsided! Our country is no longer energy independent and the energy companies are already talking of higher bills for the winter months.This talk of omitting fossil fuels too quickly will bring huge costs to citizens on fixed incomes. Crime has increased almost everywhere. Our weekly newspaper has many stories of narcotic seizures in our rural areas and the fentanyl deaths are rising while drug cartels are getting richer. We keep hearing that the border is closed, but we know this is a falsehood. Many are not being apprehended at the border. We have to keep praying that harm will not come to our country. The crime rates keep going higher in the big cities also. Many perpetrators are in the streets the day after apprehension.

Recently I have had the honor to ride in various parade vehicles with the American Legion McBride Post #143 or with Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 870 displaying the American Flag. As we were winding down neighborhood roads or main avenues we passed citizens standing with their hands over their hearts. Next to them we would see children mirroring their parents, this sight is worth hundreds of “thank you for your service” greetings. It gives Veterans a gleam of hope for our country’s future and erases the sight of some millionaire kneeling on our flag. Before some of the “First Amendment right of free speach” people fill your diapers, we Veterans have the same right and we have spent a part of our life living in less than enjoyable conditions defending that and other privileges offered in our Constitution. We have darn sure paid our dues to speak our thoughts too.

Time has already told us the truth about the 2020 election. The investigations were completed and vetted by Republicans. There was not sufficient voter fraud to overturn the election. Biden won fair and square and whether you choose to accept the truth, he won overwhelmingly. Americans are tired of division and do not accept anyone who promotes violence.

I woke up at a Motel 6 inAmarillo and glanced at my phone, squinting. I thought it was 8:30 a.m.

C APITAL Highlights House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said Friday he opposes a push by Lt. Gov.

T EXAS History On Sep. 30, 1918, every seat was full in Dallas’CrystalTheater for every showing of “The Girl of Today” because Corinne Griffith was there in person to promote her latest silent picture.

September is National Suicide Awareness Month. This is a column continued from last week: The risk factors and warning signs for those contemplating suicide are many, but the following are the most frequently seen:

Sept. 22-29, 1972 A middle-aged farmer, who lived several miles south of La Grange on the Flatonia farm-tomarket road, lost $1,442 in cash to three con artists in the age-old Three Card Monte game. Because the incident wasn’t reported to the sheriff’s department until several hours after it occurred, a search for the perpetrators proved futile. In other old news, another session to discuss future ambulance service in Fayette County was held in the district courtroom. G.A. Koenig of Koenig Funeral Home summed up why funeral homes were getting out of the business: stiffer government regulations, labor problems, losses on service and interference with the funeral business. After two hours of discussion, nothing was settled, but several avenues were to be explored. First, county and city officials consented to try and woo the hospitals into taking over the ambulance dispatch service with possible subsidy assistance from the county and cities. Second, the operator of the private ambulance service in Giddings expressed willingness to consider setting up a similar program in La Grange on a subsidized basis. A Texas Department of Health representative provided statistics on the number of cities where hospitals, for the most part, had successfully assumed subsidized ambulance service operations.

OP The 10th Annual OktoBierFest at the Round Top Rifle Hall will be Saturday, Oct. 22 beginning at noon.

To The Editor: No matter what we look like or where we live, most Fayette County residents work hard for our families. But the same corporations that hold down our wages are bragging to their Wall St. shareholders about raising our local prices. And every time Democrats tackle price gouging, Trump Republicans try to block it, including the newly enacted Inflation Reduction Act that makes healthcare more affordable, lowers energy and prescription drug prices, and ensures corporations pay what they owe in taxes.