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As we come to the end of 2020, this year will definitely go down in history for so many reasons. Although we have much to be thankful for, I believe the general sentiments around town are that it’s time for 2020 to be over. St. John is no stranger to the difficulties of hurricane season. We have lived through more than we care to remember. But 2020 has brought about the longest hurricane season on record in the history of our country. All over Louisiana, we prepared and unprepared for seven storms along our Gulf Coast. So, for being spared the wrath of seven hurricanes this year, we must be thankful!

A few Sundays ago, I attended mass for the 100th Anniversary of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. The ceremony was lightly attended, yet very special for the church and its members. Not long after the mass, I was back at work to handle three people murdered in the time span of just a few of hours. One case involved a young man who was killed in Reserve. The second case involved two sisters being viciously stabbed to death by the person they lived with. In my 32 years of law enforcement, this was definitely the most brutal murder scene I have witnessed. After we spent five to seven hours of working this case and cleaning up, I contacted grief counselors to be available to help officers work through and deal with the tragedy they witnessed. I am proud to work beside the brave men and women who are overworked, underappreciated, and endure violent crime scenes and yet they still put the uniform on and come back to work day after day. So, for the men and women in blue who are sworn to protect and serve our community, we must thankful!

I would like to take a minute to wish a Happy Veterans Day to all of those who have served in our armed forces. The war veterans who reside at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home were celebrated with a mini parade of first responders and parish officials on the grounds of the facility on Wednesday, Nov. 11. They deserve our recognition and appreciation for sacrifices they made for all Americans. So, for the Veterans, we must be thankful!

And in closing, I know we have all lived through a one- or two-term president that we did not vote for and did not agree with. The key words are “we lived”. President John F. Kennedy said,  “Ask not what our country can do for us, but what we can do for our country.” My prayers are that with the end of 2020, people will make an effort to close the great divide between race, gender, age, religion and political views by showing respect for our differences. I pray for unity and peace, not just in our community and our state, but all over our country. So, for the freedom we enjoy as Americans, we should be thankful!