Remember Vietnam casualties

Following my Vietnam service, I returned to Mississippi, relocated to Meridian and have lived here since 1973. You fellows from Lauderdale County probably would not recognize the places and the people you left behind – things have changed drastically since you have been gone.

News of your deaths brought much heartbreak and many tears to your loved ones and friends. After all these years we still remember the price you paid for your country and our freedoms.

As another Memorial Day ceremony unfolds at the county courthouse, each of your 28 names will be read. In remembrance of your sacrifice, friends and family members will come forward to place a Buddy Poppy at the base of the granite wall honoring all the county’s losses since World War I. The patriotism that you felt as you left Lauderdale County for the war in Vietnam is still alive and well in your hometowns and communities.

Many of you died protecting one another, but you all served so that we could keep the things we love the most – God, country, and family. By remaining true to these principles, we honor your sacrifices.

Van “Mac” McCarty

USMC Vietnam Veteran, Meridian

Stay safe, be responsible in celebrations

This Memorial Day, Americans everywhere will toast to our nation’s freedoms and salute those in our armed services who have fallen defending them. As the unofficial start to summer season, Memorial Day is the perfect opportunity to take a much needed break, reflect on sacrifices made and celebrate our cherished way of life.

As you gather together with friends and family members, remember what our servicemen and women have fought for: our safety. In partnership with Anheuser-Busch, we are calling on everyone to play your part to help keep our roads safe.

Over the past 30 years, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners have invested more than $1 billion in the United States to promote alcohol responsibility and help prevent drunk driving. As your local Anheuser-Busch distributor, Mitchell Distributing is committed to helping keep the local roads safe this Memorial Day weekend.

In the spirit of Memorial Day, we encourage you to kick off the summer responsibly. If your plans involve alcohol, plan to use a designated driver, get a ride, call a cab or use public transport. Whatever you do, care enough to get home safely. Start your summer the safe way and Don’t Drive Drunk.

Adam Mitchell

CEO, Mitchell Distributing, Meridian

Shutting down meat industry

This past Sunday, animal rights activists shut down the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus after years of effectively exposing them for animal abuse. Can the meat and dairy industry be far behind?

The shift toward plant-based eating is everywhere. Fast-food chains like Chipotle, Quiznos, Starbucks, Subway, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s offer plant-based options. Parade, Better Homes and Gardens, and Eating Well are all touting vegan recipes.

Indeed, Global Meat News reports that nearly half of consumers are reducing their meat intake. Beef consumption has dropped by 43% in the past 40 years. Google CEO Eric Schmidt views replacement of meat by plant protein as the world’s #1 technical trend. The financial investment community is betting on innovative start-ups, like Beyond Meat, or Impossible Foods, while warning clients about “death of meat.”

Even Tyson Foods new CEO Tom Hayes sees plant protein as meat industry’s future. The industry needs to transition to plant-based foods, or shut down like the Greatest Show on Earth.

In the meantime, every one of us can shut the meat and dairy industry out of our own kitchen by checking out the rich collection of plant-based entrees, milks, cheeses, and ice creams in our supermarket.

Malcolm Williams

Meridian