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July 2017
The song of the summer continues in July. The cicadas are still buzzing, and the screen doors continue to creek. This month, the song is accompanied by undertones I love: tones of freedom and love for our country. There’s no better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than the Pelican State. The people here love our country, and it shows. I always look forward to the sight of fireworks reflecting off the ponds and lakes and the smoky smell of barbecue that wafts over us as we walk from our houses to our cars, ready to celebrate with our loved ones. In most backyards, we gather together to grill juicy steaks and hamburgers. We sit in lawn chairs enjoying delicious grub and good company. It’s our way of celebrating the country we live in and the freedoms we enjoy. By staying true to those freedoms, we celebrate our independence every single day. The sweltering heat should stifle our fun, but on the contrary, it makes certain activities lovely. Nothing beats resting poolside in July with cool beverages in our hands, basking in the sun’s rays. We live in a divisive time. I don’t have to remind you what’s going on in the news every day. Instead of focusing on what divides us, I’d rather write about what unites each and every American in this country that brave men and women fought and died for. They had a vision of what a free and independent nation could do. They saw a great union of people who could exercise freedom of speech, religion, press, and the right to bear arms. Most importantly, they were willing to fight for it. Ben Franklin said it best: “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” THE FEEL OF FREEDOM FOR WHOM THE FIREWORKS BURST
The liberty they fought for is alive and well today. I can’t imagine how Benjamin Franklin would feel if he knew that, 241 years later, our rights were still defended by brave men and women in uniform. He would be proud to know there are still courageous people at home who defend the Constitution, a guide that George Washington said he would “never abandon.” He never did, and I hope we never will either. The sights, sounds, and tastes of the holiday are great, but they do not compare to the way freedom feels. I hope we never take it for granted, and I hope we hold the sacrifices of those before us dear in our hearts. I salute all those who fight for our freedoms at home and abroad, and to each American who loves our country, remember, the fireworks are for you.
Happy Independence Day!
– J. Cra ig Jon e s a nd Cra ig Ra y Hill
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FOOD, FIREWORKS, AND AMERICAN VALUES
Every American child is taught that we celebrate Independence Day to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On that day, we have cookouts, wear patriotic garb, and gather to watch the night sky
After the War of 1812 ended and American independence was solidified further, celebrations reached even greater heights. During this time, John Philip Sousa’s 1897 march “The Stars and Stripes Forever” became a Fourth of July standard. “Stars and Stripes” may have been the first song associated with the holiday, but it certainly isn’t the only one. “God Bless America,” “This Land is Your Land,” and “America the Beautiful” are all Independence Day classics. Another integral part of Fourth of July celebrations is, without question, the food. From hot dogs and hamburgers to watermelon, there’s no better day to enjoy some all-American fare — and there’s no more food more American than barbecue. Barbecue has been a Fourth of July tradition, especially in the South, for over a century. When the great American ornithologist John J. Audubon visited Kentucky in the early 19th century to research the local birds, he was treated to an Independence Day barbecue. He never forgot, and wrote of the event, “Although more than 20 years have elapsed since I joined a Kentucky Barbecue, my spirit is refreshed every Fourth of July by the recollection of that day’s merriment.” The Fourth of July, though, isn’t just about food and festivities — it’s also a day to remember the ideals our country was created to embody. Thomas Jefferson, the writer of the Declaration of Independence, certainly felt that the holiday was a time to reflect on these values. In the last letter he ever wrote, from his home at Monticello on June 24, 1826, he advocated that annual celebrations “forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.”
lit up by fireworks. Like all traditions, these events can seem like a matter of course, but they have a fascinating historical origin.
One of our founding fathers, John Adams, had ideas for what the celebration would look like even before the document had officially been ratified. In a letter to his wife Abigail written on July 3, 1776,
he described celebrations “with pomp and parade, with [shows], games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” It was only one year later the first Fourth of July fireworks display was held in Philadelphia. Of course, the Revolutionary War was still raging at this point, so celebrations were by no means extravagant or widespread. Once the war ended in 1783, Independence Day began to be recognized as a holiday in many parts of the country. It replaced March 5, the date of the Boston Massacre, as the major patriotic holiday in Massachusetts. Around this time, fireworks also became commercially available all over the young nation.
Catch ‘Em, Cowboy July Offers Fishing Rodeos Across the State
There’s nothing more American than a rodeo, and nothing more Louisianan than a rodeo for fishing. That’s why we’re excited about the number of fishing rodeos that happen around the state every July. At Lake Charles, they kick off Independence Day weekend early with their 79th Annual Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo from June 30 to July 3. If deep sea fishing is your sport, this is the time to show it. They donate a portion of the proceeds to the Children’s Miracle Network for Southwest Louisiana, so this one’s also for a cause. That same weekend, Cypremort Point State Park hosts Louisiana’s Fourth of July Fishing Rodeo from July 1–3. There’s no better place to catch speckled trout, croakers, tripletails, and redfish, and maybe even earn a trophy or two for it. After that, you’ll have to wait until the end of the month. From July 27–29, you have two more competing fish rodeos to choose from. In Venice, the Faux Pas Lodge Invitational serves as one of the state’s most premier rodeos. They partnered with Mercury Marine and Metro Boating to offer anglers a chance to win over $50,000 this year.
Finally, the oldest fishing tournament in the United States will continue with another Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo. They really go all-out for this one with live music, great food, and crab races
for the kids. If you want to enjoy to festivities with your family without competing, this is the place to be.
Happy fishing!
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Hurt on the High Seas What to Do If You’ve Been Injured Offshore
There’s a lot of money in oil, and working offshore is an exciting way to make a lot of it. You’re out there on the water working with some incredible machinery that displays exactly what modern engineering can do. But the danger of the work is very real. At sea, the stakes are high, and resulting injuries are often very serious. The oil companies know the dangers to their employees, yet they often try to get out of giving their injured workers fair compensation. Offshore accidents are complicated when it comes to compensation, due to something called The Jones Act (formerly called the Merchant Marine Act or the Death on the High Seas Act.) It provides injured seamen with the right to bring legal action on their employer for injuries that happen on the vessel.
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A relatively permanent
connection to a single or group of vessels under common ownership.
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Been aboard to perform duties that contributed to a primary function of the vessel or its mission.
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Seen a doctor as a result of the accident.
To do that, the injured party must qualify as a seaman under the law. In order to do that, the injured must have ...
We recommend consulting with a licensed practitioner to properly document any injuries you’ve
sustained during an accident. Through hospitalization, multiple doctor visits, and therapy, the medical costs add up very quickly. If you’ve been injured in an offshore accident, we’re here to help.
• Been on a vessel that was in navigation or docked when the injury happened.
Sudoku
Simple Summer Brown Butter and Corn Pasta
Ingredients
• • • • •
4 medium ears corn
1 pound pasta
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup packed fresh basil leaves
Directions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cut kernels off ears of corn; set aside. 2. Cook pasta according to package
instructions and reserve ¼ cup cooking water. While pasta cooks, melt butter on
medium-high in 3-quart saucepan. Cook 3-4 minutes, swirling frequently, until browned and very fragrant. Reduce heat to medium, add corn, and cook about 2 minutes, or until corn is heated through. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add corn mixture, Parmesan, basil, and reserved cooking water. Stir until combined and adjust seasonings as needed. Enjoy!
Recipe inspired by goodhousekeeping.com.
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THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
At first glance, any American can tell you what happened on at least one day in July history. (I’ll give you a hint: It’s after July 3.) Instead, how about a pleasant jaunt down a dark lane, filled with mobsters, fraud, and murder? You’ll find all that and more in the fascinating story of Jimmy Hoffa, who disappeared on July 30, 1975. Jimmy Hoffa was born in 1913 and became an important union activist in his 20s. By the time he was in his 40s, he had become the national vice president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), which became the largest union in the U.S. But he had to step on a few toes to get there. Little is known about Hoffa’s mafia activity during several decades, but in 1964, he was convicted of attempted bribery, jury tampering, and fraud (basic mob stuff). He was sentenced to prison, but he struck a deal with President Richard M. Nixon for a presidential pardon if he resigned from the union. At 2 p.m. on July 30, 1975, Hoffa visited the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomfield, Michigan, near Detroit. He told his friends he was there to meet with two mafia leaders. After 30 minutes, a frustrated The Disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa
Hoffa called his wife from a pay phone to say he would wait for a few more minutes. He hung up the phone and was never heard from again.
Wild speculation has surrounded his disappearance. After several decades and thousands of leads, including some from former friends and associates, the Hoffa case remains unsolved.
One theory commonly retold in pop culture is that Hoffa was killed and stuffed in an oil drum that was buried under Giants Stadium in New Jersey, as several ex-mobsters claimed in a 1989 Playboy article. However, when the stadium was demolished in 2010, the FBI searched for remains and found none. You may know what happened on July 4, 1776, but we’re afraid you may never know what happened to Jimmy Hoffa. Forty-two years later, the FBI claims that the investigation is ongoing.
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