Editorials Archive

Stay safe this holiday weekend
, Publisher
07-03-2009

As many people around our parish and across the nation kick back for a long holiday weekend, it’s important to remember what the celebration of July 4 is all about.

More than any other national holiday, July 4 is a reverent, joyous celebration of the freedom we hold dear to our hearts living in the United States of America.

In spite of the many challenges we face, we owe it to ourselves today to think past our troubles and examine the relative ease with which we exist in this nation. The United States, despite the current recession and deepening woes abroad, is the greatest country in the world.

As you celebrate with friends and family this weekend, please be safe. It can be easy to over-indulge or be careless when everyone is having a good time.

If you’re drinking this weekend, appoint a designated driver and do not provide alcohol to those younger than 21. If you plan to shoot fireworks, be aware of where they are legally allowed in Lincoln Parish, and have a hose or bucket of water nearby in case something goes wrong. Dry grasses and brush are prone to catching fire that could spread quickly, and municipal water supplies are rapidly depleting because of the drought.

Also, remember to never let unattended children play with fireworks — for their own safety.

Many people will enjoy the holiday weekend on our area’s waterways, so keep these safety tips in mind:

• Don’t mix alcohol and boating. Designate a driver. One-third of all boating deaths are alcohol-related, according to the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.

• Louisiana law requires that everyone age 12 and younger wears a life jacket.

• Check the weather report frequently, and be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen.

Perhaps most importantly this weekend, it is our responsibility to thank our military servicemen and women. They put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we enjoy and to bring that privilege to other nations. Without their efforts through the decades, this celebration of freedom might not be possible.