Greene County Democrat

Category: World News

  • Newswire : Patient advocacy groups call on governor to close the coverage gap

    By: Alabama Health Advocates
    From Alabama Political Reporters

    Here’s the startling reality: in Alabama, a couple with one child earning $5,000 a year would make too much to be eligible for Medicaid.
    We represent the patients, families and advocates served by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, American Heart Association and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  We advocate of behalf of people facing serious and often life-threatening medical conditions. We know about the healthcare plight of patients and workers in Alabama because we see it every day.
    We also stand up for hard-working Alabamians who want to stay healthy, like the construction worker with high blood pressure who can’t afford medication, the hairstylist with a family history of breast cancer who wants a screening mammogram and the truck driver who previously smoked and knows he should have his lungs checked. These Alabamians deserve to take care of themselves but often they fall into the coverage gap where they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford health insurance.
    For our neighbors with risk factors for cardiovascular disease or recovering from a heart attack or stroke, or those who are battling cancer, access to affordable and adequate health insurance is a matter of life and death. By closing the coverage gap, hundreds of thousands of working families, veterans, and small business owners would be able to have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare and get the medications and treatments they need to stay healthy.
    In fact, recent studies show nearly half of Alabama workers do not get employer-sponsored health insurance. On behalf of these patients and hard-working Alabamians, we want to see a solution to close the coverage gap and take action to address the healthcare crisis in Alabama.
    When workers can’t stay healthy, they leave the workforce, which puts a strain on their families as well as on businesses. And it strains the healthcare system when uninsured patients only have access to emergency care. We have seen rural hospitals close, leaving people vulnerable to more health challenges in those areas. The resistance to closing the coverage gap in Alabama is costing us all. Patients have worse outcomes that still require care and our federal tax dollars currently fund coverage in other states without any of it benefitting Alabama.
    As we head into this year’s legislative session, it is more important than ever for our state’s leaders to take Alabama’s health crisis seriously. Gov. Ivey and Alabama legislators, we’re calling on you to expand healthcare access in Alabama and close the coverage gap as soon as possible. It’s time to shift from talking to action. We need to implement solutions to solve the health system and workforce problems that impact Alabamians every day. Give us and all our friends and neighbors a fighting chance to get healthy, stay healthy and continue working.

  • Newswire: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization reignites controversy over transparency amid health concerns

    Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III official portrait session, July 6, 2023. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

    Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin found himself back in the spotlight as he was urgently admitted to an emergency hospital on Sunday afternoon for symptoms related to a bladder issue, just weeks after his previous hospitalization. The 70-year-old cabinet official’s decision to withhold information from the White House about his earlier health episode has triggered a renewed wave of criticism and scrutiny.
    The latest incident, detailed in a report by USA Today, saw Secretary Austin move to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment—the announcement, made by Pentagon press secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder disclosed that Austin is undergoing treatment for symptoms indicating a severe bladder issue, raising concerns about the gravity of his health condition.
    This recurrence comes on the heels of Austin’s earlier hospitalization, a matter that was not promptly disclosed to the White House, Congress, and other Pentagon officials. The deliberate delay in communication has intensified scrutiny and fueled outrage among right-leaning media pundits and lawmakers.
    During his prior hospitalization, Austin delegated his duties to his deputy, but the decision to withhold pertinent information from key stakeholders has ignited widespread criticism. Shortly before 5 o’clock, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder announced that Kathleen Hicks had taken over as deputy secretary of defense.
    The Pentagon’s statement emphasized the urgency of Austin’s hospitalization for symptoms related to a bladder issue. The White House, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Congress have all been informed about the unfolding situation.
    The controversy surrounding the delayed disclosure raises fundamental questions about transparency within the Defense Department and the communication protocols governing the health status of high-ranking officials.

  • 325 people died in custody of Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) in 2023

    There have now been more than 1,000 deaths in Alabama prisons since a 2019 DOJ investigation found Alabama’s prisons unconstitutional.

    By: Patrick Darrington, Alabama Political Reporter
    Published on February 2, 2024

    At least 325 individuals died while incarcerated in the Alabama Department of Corrections in 2023, marking the highest number of deaths recorded, according to data obtained by Alabama Appleseed.
    “In the weeks after we started tracking prison deaths starting January 1 of last year, we quickly realized we’d very likely see another record year of deaths, and we were correct,” Eddie Burkhalter, a researcher with Alabama Appleseed, said.
    According to a report by Burkhalter, since 2019, there have now been over 1,000 deaths in Alabama prisons following an investigation by the Department of Justice that found Alabama’s prisons unconstitutional. The DOJ also filed a lawsuit against Alabama in 2020 because of the alleged unconstitutionality of its prisons, and that case is set to begin in November 2024.
    The deaths of hundreds of individuals in ADOC facilities underscore a multitude of issues ranging from unchecked violence to the proliferation of drugs, both often a result of the correctional officers supposedly tasked with maintaining the peace.
    Multiple times, APR has reported instances of correctional officers being involved in assaults, getting caught possessing drugs, or former officers being sentenced for assaults.
    Another issue is the problem of overcrowding and lack of parole for older individuals or those who are in minimum custody, meaning they pose little threat to the public and work in communities in the free world.
    ADOC’s statistics often indicate that many individuals die from “natural” causes, which may be true for older individuals. This then raises the question of why many of them are not released.

    However, these statistics should also be viewed skeptically because ADOC has a history of misclassifying deaths to mask how many individuals died from violence, as Burkhalter also indicates.
    APR has heard from sources that both overcrowding and lack of parole increase the violence within the prisons. The lack of parole, in particular, enables individuals to adopt an attitude of believing they have nothing to lose, resulting in acts of violence because there is no longer a fear of consequence.
    “Until the Alabama Department of Corrections takes the steps necessary to rid our prisons of the drugs that drive the violence and death, and hold those who prey on the weaker inside our prisons accountable, we’ll continue to see records like this broken every year. State lawmakers and the public need to press ADOC to act so that we don’t continue to see more MaKayla Mounts, who at the age of 17 feel they must stand in front of a room full of strangers and speak about losing their father at such a young age.”
    In December, Mount was one of over a dozen individuals who spoke during a public hearing at a Joint Prison Oversight Committee Meeting. Mount detailed how her father, Christopher Mount, was strangled in prison and expressed what it was like to have to wait 10 years to see her dad.
    “You know, when you see your dad for the first time in 10 years and half of his face is gone because he was beaten, it does something to you,” Mount said. “… The [correctional officers] are corrupt, the prisons are corrupt. It’s in the name; it’s a correctional facility. It’s meant for correction. It’s not a death sentence; it’s not supposed to be a death sentence, and yet, it is. So many people are dying for no reason.”
    Despite Mount and other families begging for change, the violence has only escalated according to the final death total.
    Patrick Darrington is a reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter. You can reach him at pdarrington@alreporter.com.

  • Newswire: U. S. provides millions in aid for Angola but not so much for famine in Ethopia

    Doctor measures arm of child in Ethopia


    Feb. 5, 2024 (GIN) – Winding up his four nation tour of Africa, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced a super generous gift of close to a billion dollars for our new ally, Angola, to fund a solar energy project and upgrade a rail corridor.
     
    These major new U.S. investments were seen as sweeteners to help counter China’s influence on the continent.
     
    U.S.-Angola relations are at their strongest point in history said Blinken as he and Angolan foreign minister Tete Antonio posed for pictures before their country’s flags.
     
    New American investments include more than $900 million for solar energy projects and $250 million to upgrade a rail corridor that carries critical minerals, including cobalt and copper, from central Africa to Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito.
     
    The $900 million Sun Africa solar energy project will get financing from the U.S. Export Import Bank (EXIM) and was approved in October. With the money, Sun Africa is expected to construct two utility-scale solar photovoltaic parks that will provide more than 500 MW of renewable power.  
     
    U.S. funding will also cover $363 million financing of Acrow Bridge’s 186 prefabricated bridges. This promises to support critical infrastructure and thousands of Angolan and American jobs.
     
    EXIM declared the Sun Africa program its “Deal of the Year” for 2023.
     
    The transportation project is expected to further President Biden’s goal of diversifying American supply chains – in part to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese control of the vital ingredients for a modern economy. It stretches from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Atlantic Ocean.
     
    Not long ago, Angola concluded a civil war in which as many as one million people died. During that war, the Soviet Union provided military training and equipment to the Marxist MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) which ousted the U.S. supported rebels  with help from the Soviets and Cuba.
     
    While Angola reaps monetary and other benefits, as many as 20.4 million people across Ethiopia require food support, according to the World Food Program. It is one of four countries in East Africa where Oxfam is responding to extreme hunger.
    According to the British Red Cross, soaring food prices, conflict and climate change are plunging parts of Africa into a severe and enduring food crisis, with millions of people in Africa facing extreme hunger.
    Nearly 400 people have died of starvation in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara regions in recent months, according to the national ombudsman. It’s a rare admission of hunger-related deaths by a federal body – the government normally dismisses famine warnings as “politicking”.
     

  • Newswire : Dexter Scott King, champion of civil rights and son of MLK Jr., succumbs to prostate cancer at 62

    By Stacy M. Brown
    NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has died at 62. The King Center, along with statements from the family, confirmed Dexter’s death on Monday, January 22, just one week after the nation observed his father’s holiday. King’s family said he died after a valiant battle against prostate cancer.
    Family members claimed that King, a tenacious civil rights activist in his own right, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Malibu home while spending time with his loved ones. Leah Weber King, Dexter’s wife since 2013, shared the news through a statement from the King Center. “He transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home with me in Malibu,” she said. “He gave it everything and battled this terrible disease until the end. As with all the challenges in his life, he faced this hurdle with bravery and might.”
    Martin Luther King III, Dexter’s older brother, also expressed deep sorrow, urging everyone to keep the entire King family, especially Dexter’s wife, Leah Weber, in their thoughts and prayers.
    Reverend Al Sharpton, a prominent figure in the civil rights movement, later shared his condolences. “I am heartbroken to hear that Dexter King left us this morning, but I was comforted by the knowledge that he is reunited with his parents and sister,” Sharpton stated.
    Dexter’s mother, Coretta Scott King, died in 2006, and his sister, Yolanda Denise King, died in 2007. Dexter, born on January 30, 1961, carried his father’s legacy forward. According to a King Center bio, he attended Morehouse College, majoring in business administration, and in 2005, he took on the roles of chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the King Center.
    Dexter’s vision for his father’s legacy was clear: to educate the public about and perpetuate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of nonviolence globally. Beyond his activism, Dexter made significant contributions to media and entertainment. He starred in and produced films, records, and television specials focused on the civil rights movement. His animated movie, “Our Friend Martin,” received an Emmy Award nomination, and he authored the intimate memoir “Growing Up King” in 2003.
    Recognized as one of Ebony magazine’s “100 Most Influential Black Americans,” Dexter Scott King worked along with his family to keep his parents’ legacy alive.
    “On behalf of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, we pause to mourn and to celebrate the life of Dexter King, who in his own way strived to exemplify the outstanding legacy of his father, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., a civil rights legend who worked under Dr. King in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. “We express our sympathy to the King family, and we rededicate the Black Press to keep Dr. King’s dream alive, not only for all Americans but for people throughout the world

  • Newswire : Ahead of the 84th anniversary of the first-ever Social Security check, Rep. Sewell vows to protect and expand Social Security benefits

    Washington D.C. — Ahead of the 84th anniversary of the first-ever Social Security check, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement vowing to protect and expand Social Security benefits for the over 153,000 beneficiaries in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. Rep. Sewell is an original cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act which would enhance benefits for the first time in more than 50 years.

    “Every American deserves to retire with dignity after a lifetime of work,” said Rep. Sewell. “While some in Washington are attempting to cut and ultimately privatize benefits, I am working to protect and expand Social Security so that seniors and others get the benefits they’ve rightly earned.”

    Tomorrow marks the 84th anniversary of the first Social Security check which was issued to Ms. Ida May Fuller on January 31, 1940. Social Security benefits were last enhanced more than 50 years ago. Alongside nearly 200 House Democrats, Rep. Sewell is an original cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act to enhance benefits for the first time in over 50 years and extend the program’s solvency for generations to come.

    Conversely, in September, nearly every House Republican voted to cut Social Security Administration funding by 30%. Earlier this month, Republicans on the House Budget Committee advanced legislation that would create a fast-track commission designed to cut Social Security.

    Alabama’s 7th Congressional District is home to more than 153,000 Social Security recipients—including 9,175 widows, 15,416 children, 93,831 retirees, and 32,661 disabled workers—who collectively receive over $224 million in monthly benefits.

  • Eutaw City Council holds two called meetings; Audit for September 30, 2022 is approved

    The Eutaw City Council held two called meetings on January 22 and January 29, 2024 to deal with important business. It handled some of the business and deferred other matters to a proposed ‘work session” next week.

    At the January 29, 2024 meeting, the Council received a detailed report on the CPA audit of its finances for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. Auditor Rick Harbin of Tuscaloosa presented the 47-page report and stated that his firm was able to issue a letter, at the beginning of the audit, that the statements “reflect fairly the financial position of the city and that the reports follow standard accounting principles accepted in the USA.”

    Harbin said the audit was clean and clear and represented the best efforts to account for the city’s assets, liabilities, and net position. Mayor Latasha Johnson thanked the staff, particularly Shakelvia Spencer and Joe Powell, as well as Financial Adviser Ralph Liverman for their work in keeping accurate records. “Having this audit, will allow us to receive and compete for state and Federal funding going forward. The funding sources are requiring us to have audits that show we are capable of handling and spending government funds,” said Mayor Johnson.

    The audit shows that the City of Eutaw has combined Assets between governmental and business (mainly the water and sewer system) of $9,739,000 as compared with $9,477,000, the previous year. The report shows total Liabilities of $2,933,000; and total Liabilities and  Net Position of $12,978,000.

    The 47-page audit contains many other financial statements and notes dealing with the finances of the city, which the councilmembers must review and study for guidance in making policy decisions. For instance, the report shows a negative $489,349 in revenues, compared with expenses for the water and sewer system. If this trend continues, the Council may need to raise water and sewer rates. The audit also shows $ 577,681 in revenues from Bingo distributions in FY 2022, The Sheriff has not provided bingo distributions to Eutaw and other Greene County municipalities since May of 2023.

    The Mayor presented a proposal at both meetings to re-organize the staff and give raises to employees accepting promotions to higher positions.
    These changes were necessitated by the illness and retirement of longtime city employee, Larry Sanford. The Council did not make a motion to approve these items and they were deferred for discussion to a working session to be held next week.

    At the January 22 meeting, the Council approved a Resolution on the Usage of City Vehicles, which stated that city employees who live outside the city police jurisdiction cannot drive city vehicles to their home. Mayor Johnson placed an item on the January 29, 2024 meeting agenda, to rescind this policy. Many police officers, who live outside the police jurisdiction want to drive city police cars home, so they can respond to emergencies more quickly. The Council tabled this matter and deferred it to the proposed work session.

    At the January 22nd meeting, the Council approved an agreement to allow the Alabama Forestry Commission to construct a 60-foot by 60-foot storage building to house its equipment on the city’s property behind the National Guard Armory. This will make the equipment more readily available than parking the equipment in Tuscaloosa. At the meeting the Council approved a plan for road improvements on the west end of Eutaw, under the Rebuild Alabama grant program. The Council also approved a $21,620 grant from Communities United for GIS mapping of city infrastructure, especially the water and sewer system. The grant requires a $1,000 matching from the city.

    At the January 29th meeting the Council approved a grievance procedure, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, where persons with disabilities may make written complaints to the City Clerk and get due process and consideration of their complaints. The Council also passed an ordinance (No. 2024-01-29 #5) for Public Tree Planting in the City of Eutaw, which will be printed in the public notice section of this newspaper.

    The Council was asked to approve use of the gym at the Robert H. Young Community Center (formerly Carver School) at a compensatory rate for IRS 501c3, non-profit organizations, for the Black Pearls Tru Partner’s event on February 24, 2024. The Council deferred in making a decision and referred this to the coming work session to develop a fee schedule for events to be held at city facilities.

  • Oldest living Foot Soldier, George Sallie, crosses bridge for last time

    Submitted By: Jasmyn Bowie

    Meteorologists reported that a storm was brewing for Saturday morning. Perhaps it was just the sound of a giant crossing over. George Sallie was just that — a gentle giant. The oldest living foot soldier crossed that bridge over troubled water for the final time on Saturday. Sallie, a 94-year-old walking, talking history book, was honored with horse and carriage over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, flanked by the rails that bridged the way for children, foot soldiers and community, as they crossed over with him.
    The crowd gathered with umbrellas, ponchos and other weather gear. But the rain suddenly
    stopped. It was a beautiful day to acknowledge a beautiful spirit. The horse, carriage and his
    family crossed first, with young leaders directly behind them and with them. Freedom songs
    rang out. They reflected Sallie’s journey — the man who made it his business to journey to the
    bridge each day to greet Selma’s visitors with a smile, a very gentle handshake and valuable
    history lessons. It was also there that he prayed daily for the state trooper who beat him, leaving
    a scar where he would point to on his forehead.
    Selma’s Foot Soldier and founder of Foot Soldiers Park & Education Center, Joanne Bland, felt it her duty to be present. “I know the angels are singing right now,” she said with a smile. She continued to speak on her fellow foot soldier. “As a foot soldier, I felt it was mandatory that I walk across the bridge with Mr. Sallie for the last time. He was an amazing man, I loved him dearly. And just a walking history book. The world lost a library when he died, but he lived a wonderful life. He was the most giving and forgiving person I’ve ever known. God’s not through with me yet. I pray that I get what George Sallie got before he left.”
    Sallie impacted so many lives. He met no strangers. Patricia Taylor of St. Francis Episcopal
    Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, traveled in on a charter bus with her church. “It was an
    awesome experience to be able to help send this gentleman home,” she said.
    Family was everything to Sallie, so we spoke with four young family members who traveled from Montgomery: Cedric Wright, Trayvon Wright and Tyrone Johnson (great, great nephews) and Gavin Johnson (nephew).
    “Going across the bridge one last time with Uncle George was something, it was heartfelt,” said Cedric Wright.
    As Gavin smiled, Trayvon spoke of the mood the day put him in. “It was surreal going across the bridge one last time with him. It was something he and our family were always proud about—he was part of real history. He was part of the original group. It was just cool to be in his presence because he was like walking history.”


    Tyrone added, “It was a special moment [crossing over today] to cherish and see, and basically
    write about.


    Speaking of young people, Sallie thoroughly enjoyed it when they gathered at the bridge to
    listen as he shared history with them. And, appropriately so, the first walking group behind his
    carriage line was a group of young people that has marked social justice as part of their
    mission—the National Youth Advisory Board of Foot Soldiers Park. They studied other parts of
    Sallie’s journey before arriving on Saturday for his crossing. They saw his fine lines, his scar, his
    hands and his eyes. So, they came bearing the banner that had been around for a while —
    more worn and well-traveled, with many stories in its creases — instead of bringing their brand
    new banner that was smooth, had traveled only once and was only months old.

    They said they felt honored to make the crossing:


    “It was such an honor to walk across with the very man that helped start it all. It was such an
    amazing privilege and honor,” said Micah Thomas Jr., a senior at Southside High School.

    Twins Carmen and Camron Benjamin, sophomores at Selma High School, agreed. “It was a
    great feeling to honor such a legend,” said Carmen. Camron stated that “it was a great feeling to
    be a part of this history and pay my respects to a fallen foot soldier.”

    “It was just an honor to honor the person who fought for us and prayed for us,” said Deanisea
    Sullivan, a junior at Selma High School. “It was a very, very powerful experience,” she added.


    Taniya Dixon, 2023 Southside High graduate and University of Alabama freshman, said “it felt
    historical walking after someone who marched for my rights when they were younger. So, I paid
    my respects by doing it while I’m young.”


    The Sun spotted foot soldier Albert Southall, as he crossed the bridge back into Selma.

    “I’m an original foot soldier,” he said. “My feelings were bouncing between when we marched to
    Montgomery, and we had rainy, muddy weather—some really bad weather. They gave us
    orange vests, and I think Mr. Sallie was one of the few foot soldiers that kept his vest. I was
    thinking about the trip and also counting my blessings.”


    There were so many personal stories on the bridge Saturday morning. So many who had
    honorable stories about Sallie. So many remembered how he forgave and taught God and
    forgiveness.


    “The fact that he would come to the foot of the Edmund Pettus bridge each day and pray for the
    state trooper that beat him on Bloody Sunday is a true testament to his character. He will be
    missed,” Joanne Bland said.

    The remains of a true hero, George Sallie, were lowered on Jan. 27 at or about 11:30 in the
    morning-time.

     

  • Newswire: Three Black U.S. Army reservists killed in drone attack near Syrian border

    Three Black soldiers killed in drone attack

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
    

    Three Black American reservists from the 926th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Moore, Georgia, lost their lives in a drone attack on a U.S. base near the Jordan-Syria border. Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh identified the fallen soldiers as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia.
    The tragedy occurred at the logistics support base at Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network, where approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel are stationed. That base plays a crucial role in providing support for the coalition’s efforts against ISIS, according to Central Command.
    The attack marks the third drone strike on the outpost in the past six months, with the first two occurring in the latter half of the previous year being unsuccessful. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, said the murders of the three Black reservists cut deeply.
    The U.S. government has determined that Iran was responsible for the attack, prompting President Joe Biden to vow a response. “There will be a response,” Biden declared.
    In her last conversation with her mother, Sanders reportedly expressed aspirations to elevate her military career upon returning home from the Middle East. She also revealed her intention to purchase a motorcycle. Sanders was actively involved in coaching soccer and basketball in her hometown of Waycross, Georgia, and worked at a pharmacy. She was pursuing college courses to become an X-ray technician.
    Sanders’ parents shared that she volunteered for deployment to experience different parts of the world. With a history of military service in the family, Sanders had previously deployed to Djibouti and later volunteered for Kuwait, including a stint in Jordan near the Syrian border.
    Rivers enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an interior electrician, according to the U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office.
    He served “with courage, honor, and a deep sense of duty, embodying the best of New Jersey and our nation,” said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). “His death is a profound loss to his family, friends, colleagues, and our entire country, and a reminder of the heavy debt we owe to our military families for their sacrifice.”
    U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who represents Willingboro, said in a statement that Rivers served this country and local community with great honor and bravery. “We are indebted to him and his loved ones for their service and sacrifice,” Kim stated. “We will never forget what Sergeant Rivers and his fellow fallen soldiers, Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, gave for our nation. May their memory live on in our continued service to our military families.”
    Moffett reportedly was no stranger to the military as both of her parents were veterans. “I was like no you should, but you know she went anyway, because of her dedication to her county, she really really honored her job,” Saryha Truell, one of Moffett’s lifelong friends, told WTOC-TV.
    “We are reminded that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe,” said Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, Commanding General of the 412th Theater Engineer Command.
    “Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten,” General Daniels stated.