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Wrangell siblings among four killed in Mitkof Island car wreck
Posted by Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska | Jul 29, 2020
Southeast Alaska communities are mourning four people killed in a vehicle wreck south of Petersburg. It's believed the late model SUV went off Mitkof Highway sometime Monday night.
On Tuesday morning Alaska State Troopers received a report that a group had headed to Blind Slough on Mitkof Island the day before and was overdue to return. While troopers were responding they were informed of a wreck near 27-mile of Mitkof Highway. Alaska Wildlife Troopers arrived on scene and confirmed all four occupants of a 2000 Ford Excursion, the party they were checking on, were deceased.
Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department's Dave Berg was on the scene.
"We got there we found a large SUV, late model SUV that had gone off the road some time late last night," Berg said Tuesday. "When we got there we were able to access the car by climbing down the bank and we found four occupants of the car that perished at the time of the crash."
Troopers identified those killed as: Siguard Decker, 21 and his 19-year-old sister Helen Decker, both of Wrangell. Ian Martin, 29 of Petersburg and Dennis Lord, 37 of Elmira Heights, New York were also confirmed dead.
The seafood industry group United Fishermen of Alaska has set up an online fundraiser for the Decker family. More than $67,000 has been raised by more than 500 donors in less than 24 hours.
The site is south of the Greens Camp camping area and the SUV was traveling southbound. Berg said the vehicle apparently missed a left hand curve and went off the highway over a steep embankment.
"We noticed some tire tracks on the road, some skid marks, not very many though," Berg said. "It looked like the driver may have tried to correct with over speed to correct too much around the turn and lost control of the vehicle. It went off the road and went approximately 200 feet into the trees alongside the road, along the length of the road but down the steep embankment and we envision that it probably turned, rolled a couple of times, hit a large tree, spun around it and finally came to a stop."
The deceased were transported to the Petersburg Medical Center.
This recent photo is of parents Julie and Gig Decker with their two children Sig and Helen who perished in a Monday car crash on Mitkof Island. (Photo courtesy of United Fishermen of Alaska)
Bob Thorstenson Jr. manages the two seiners — F/V Magnus Martens of Juneau and F/V Vigilant of Petersburg — that the crew had been fishing on. He says the Decker siblings were close family friends that had just wrapped up purse seining on Sunday.
He said Sig Decker had been seriously commercial fishing since he was 15. It was his sister Helen's second season but he says she showed incredible skill in some of the roughest weather he'd seen.
"I've never seen a brother and sister team, ever, in the world of fisheries," he said Tuesday evening. "They were like the Michael Jordan and Vanessa Williams together — that's how rockstar they were."
He says the crew had come into Petersburg to meet a marine mechanic after one of their vessels had engine trouble.
"Otherwise we wouldn't have been on this island with this godforsaken highway, you know," he said, "it's just that highway has gobbled up a lot of people over the years."
An initial investigation by state Troopers shows the vehicle left the road at high speed and impacted multiple trees. Troopers say everyone was wearing seatbelts and airbags had deployed.
Troopers are continuing to gather evidence at the scene on Wednesday, spokeswoman Megan Peters said.
"Investigation indicates that speed and alcohol are factors," she wrote in an email Wednesday. "Toxicology tests will be a part of the autopsy; results take awhile to come back. The troopers haven't confirmed to me yet which individual was driving. They are out on scene again today doing follow up."
With additional reporting from KFSK's Joe Viechnicki in Petersburg.
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Islamists Imprisoned Across the Middle East
By Andrew Hanna on June 24, 2021
Anti-ISIS Campaign in 2021
ISISMiddle East and North Africa
Extracted from ISIS video message "To Be Absolved Before Your Lord #2 - Wilayat Khurasan" (September 2020)
On June 25, the State Department briefed reporters on the anti-ISIS campaign by the U.S.-led coalition under the Biden administration. Secretary of State Antony Blinken then participated in a ministerial for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Rome on June 28. The following are excerpts on the status of ISIS in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya and globally.
State Department Briefing on June 25, 2021: "Since complete territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019 and the end of major combat operations, our work has continued steadily.  ISIS remains a determined enemy.  There is still much work to do in Iraq and Syria, where ISIS continues to conduct attacks and sow fear among local populations."
"We continue to strengthen our efforts to counter ISIS's global network of branches and affiliates, as well as its twisted ideology and capability to plan terrorist attacks."
"The Biden administration is committed to carrying forward the important mission to defeat ISIS. The 83-member Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS remains critically important to our efforts to ensure ISIS's lasting defeat."
Iraq: "The coalition's mission in Iraq is to support the Government of Iraq's efforts to secure the enduring defeat of ISIS. We are committed to working with the Government of Iraq to target remaining ISIS cells, deny ISIS sanctuary, and to eliminate ISIS media, finance, and facilitation networks.  This includes providing support to Iraqi counterterrorism operations and continued support to the Government of Iraq's development of a professional and capable Iraqi security force.  Our deep political and military partnership with the Government of Iraq has been essential to our recent successes and will be key to any future successes."
"In addition to security, we must also address remaining humanitarian stabilization and early recovery gaps to help victims of ISIS atrocities and others impacted by the conflict recover and thus minimize ISIS's recruitment and resurgence capability.  As part of the civilian effort, ensuring ISIS members are held accountable for their crimes and promoting community-based reconciliation will be critical to countering ISIS messaging and combating ISIS's depraved ideology."
"Accountability efforts must be accompanied by support for survivors of ISIS atrocities to increase their access to legal and psychosocial services needed for their journey to healing, but also to amplify their voices in all discussions on justice and the future of Syria and Iraq.  We will continue to provide targeted assistance to bolster justice and accountability efforts and provide survivors of ISIS crimes with the support they deserve."
"While we have succeeded in facilitating the safe and voluntary return of over 4 million Iraqis to their homes, 1.2 million remain displaced.  Some of those will need to be reintegrated into local communities; others will need resolution of complex political and security challenges before they are able to safely return home."
"The coalition will continue to press the Government of Iraq to do more in support of recovery, reconciliation, and increased decentralization in liberated areas to address this challenge."
Syria: "In Syria, working 'by, with, and through' the Syrian Democratic Forces, the coalition effectively secured the territorial defeat of ISIS in Syria at an exceptionally low cost and with a very small number of casualties for coalition forces, though we must recognize the toll paid by the SDF, which is over 11,000 killed in action and tens of thousands more wounded."
"President Biden has expressed support for maintaining our small number of U.S. forces in northeast Syria to support local partners and prevent an ISIS resurgence."
"We are continuing to monitor ISIS activity throughout the country and assess that ISIS has continued its efforts to regroup and carry out attacks, but has been able to do so more effectively in non-SDF-controlled areas, particularly in the Badiya Desert.  We continue to advise and support counterterrorism operations against ISIS remnants in the northeast and conduct strikes on ISIS and al-Qaida targets across Syria.  We also rely on the SDF to ensure the security necessary for the delivery of humanitarian and stabilization assistance in the northeast, which is needed now more than ever to support locals' needs amid the northeast's struggling economy, and stabilize liberated areas to allow IDP returns."
"Two key areas of concern in the northeast remain the 10,000 captured ISIS fighters in makeshift SDF detention facilities and tens of thousands of women and children in humanitarian camps subject to significant security issues and ISIS efforts to exploit the camps."
"On detainees, the coalition is working to ensure that 2,000 foreign terrorist fighters and 2,000 Iraqis in SDF custody are ultimately returned to their countries of origin and face accountability.  U.S. and coalition support to SDF detentions is critical, but this should not be misunderstood to be the long-term solution.  Repatriation, then prosecution or rehabilitation, as appropriate, is the only long-term solution for the non-Syrians."
"For better long-term security, we continue to encourage repatriations and support IDP returns via stabilization assistance.  Humanitarian agencies are providing basic psychosocial support to some camp residents with a focus on more than 40,000 children.  But more in-depth psychosocial support, child-focused services, protection, and education activities, especially in the areas that Syrians leaving al-Hol return to, are needed as a foundation for any future disengagement and reintegration efforts."
"We are working with our partners to consider how they might support humanitarian agencies providing to these populations.  These issues are exceptionally complex and span counterterrorism, security, and humanitarian imperatives.  We will continue to work diligently with our partners on the breadth of issues raised by this challenging problem."
Globally: "Despite territorial setbacks in Iraq and Syria, ISIS is actively expanding globally.  We are keeping our focus on the continuing efforts in the core, but simultaneously putting increasing pressure on ISIS's global networks.  It has worked to make its branches and networks more resilient and continues to exploit areas of local instability and conflict to recruit and train new generations of terrorist fighters."
"The coalition is going to discuss new challenges ISIS is posing in Africa, with a focus on West Africa and the Sahel. Not one of its branches has renounced its allegiance to ISIS, despite its territorial setbacks.  These branches have also served as trans-regional enablers, providing support to organize, raise funds, communicate, recruit, train, produce media, maintain local terrorist activities, and plan operations."
"While each branch remains unique, with local and opportunistic motivations, coalition information and intelligence sharing, as well as the exchange of expertise and lessons learned from Iraq and Syria, are maintained and encouraged between coalition partners and through select working groups to address ISIS's threat at the global level."
"The 83 members of our global coalition will continue to draw on all elements of national power – military, intelligence, diplomacy, economic, law enforcement, and the strength of our communities to defeat this brutal terrorist organization, while acknowledging that there is no single approach to the global defeat of ISIS; indeed, most approaches will not mirror the military-centric efforts in Iraq and Syria."
Afghanistan: "ISIS-Khorasan, or ISIS-K, is something that we've remained focused on for some time.  They remain one of the more lethal and active ISIS branches that are in Afghanistan.  You can be assured that the attention of the administration through our continuing security partnership with the Afghan Government is going to remain focused on making sure that ISIS-K is not able to conduct attacks and threaten populations in Afghanistan."
Libya: "We remain closely focused on all ISIS branch and network activity worldwide.  And suffice to say it is of particular concern – the ISIS branch and network threat across West Africa, to include portions of North Africa, including Libya.  That's something that we and our partners, particularly our Western European partners are particularly focused on.  That clearly encompasses our continued and growing concern with the ISIS branch and network threat across West and Northern Africa."
martinbertrand.fr / Shutterstock.com
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on June 28, 2021: "Since this coalition was created in 2014, our joint efforts by, with, and through our local partners have been a critical element in achieving ISIS's territorial defeat in Iraq and in Syria. Millions of civilians have been able to return to their homes. The movement of foreign ISIS fighters from – into Syria and Iraq has virtually ceased. And key ISIS leaders have either been captured or killed. These achievements are significant and a reflection of what's possible when we come together in common cause with a shared commitment."
"But there is still more work to be done, and let me briefly outline what the United States sees as our top priorities now. I think it will sound very familiar because it's very much on track with what Luigi just said. First, remaining ISIS elements in Iraq and Syria, though severely depleted, still aspire to conduct large-scale attacks, as we saw with January's twin suicide bombings in Baghdad. To sustain our military gains, we must reaffirm our commitment, including to Operation Inherent Resolve, the complementary NATO mission in Iraq, and to civilian-led counterterrorism capacity building.
"Second, we must renew coalition support for stabilization assistance across Iraq and Syria, as Luigi said, to ensure that ISIS doesn't have a resurgence in these countries. Our stabilization assistance will address critical needs that the Syrians themselves have prioritized, deal with vulnerabilities previously exploited by ISIS, close gaps in local authorities' capacities. Those needs are particularly acute given the drought and economic downturn in Syria, which ISIS is seeking to exploit.
"We've made good progress toward our 2021 fundraising goal for stabilization efforts in Iraq and northeast Syria. We set out to raise $670 million. I think we're at close to $507 million now, so let's keep going till we meet our goal. Additionally, I can announce today that the United States will provide another $436 million in humanitarian assistance to Syrians and the communities that host them, bringing the total U.S. humanitarian assistance in response to the Syria crisis to nearly $13.5 billion. Together we must stay as committed to our stabilization goals as we did to our military campaign that resulted in victory on the battlefield.
"Third, 10,000 ISIS fighters remain in SDF detention in Syria. This situation is simply untenable. It just can't persist indefinitely. The United States continues to urge countries of origin, including coalition partners, to repatriate, rehabilitate, and, where applicable, prosecute their citizens. Several countries have done good work on these fronts. Kazakhstan has repatriated more than 600 fighters and family members and has enrolled many returnees in rehabilitation programs. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic have repatriated foreign terrorist fighter family members from Iraq, and in the case of Uzbekistan, from Syria and Afghanistan as well. Several Balkan countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia have also repatriated foreign terrorist fighters. And Italy, of course, has distinguished itself as one of the few Western European countries willing to return nationals from the region. Most recently, they repatriated a female foreign terrorist fighter and her children. Finland has also shown leadership in its repatriation of multiple families from Finland originally.
"Fourth, ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS also means effectively confronting ISIS threats outside of Iraq and Syria, in the place where ISIS – places where ISIS has recently focused its efforts. In particular, we're grateful for support from coalition partners for expanding counterterrorism capacity building efforts for countries on the front lines of the ISIS threat in Africa. And again, I strongly support what the foreign minister said in that regard. Let's use today's discussion to try to expand on coalition plans for effectively dealing with the threat in Africa, as well as how we'll synchronize our efforts with national, regional, and international partners.
"To recap some recent steps the coalition has taken very briefly, last November the United States and Nigeria convened a coalition meeting with representatives of West African states to discuss countering the ISIS threat in West Africa and the Sahel. We've also held informal discussions among coalition partners on the pressing ISIS threat in northern Mozambique and the steps that we could take there. Several of the coalition's working groups are expanding their focus to include Africa. For example, the Communications Working Group recently proposed an Africa framework paper to guide the coalition's approach to countering ISIS in Africa in the information space by undermining the brand, exposing the recruitment narrative, increasing opportunities for dialogue, sharing positive alternative narratives to ISIS.
"This is a vitally important effort. We are seeing fighters of 13 and 14 years old take up weapons to kill people, and we have to get at this from every possible angle. And information work is vitally important. We urge more coalition working groups – for example, the Counter-ISIS Finance Group – to follow suit and pay additional attention to ISIS and its – the problem it poses in Africa.
"And recent coalition expansion efforts have focused on African nations, with the Central African Republic and Mauritania joining as our 82nd and 83rd members. We'll continue to encourage key frontline states and regional leaders in Africa to consider becoming members of this coalition.
"On a final related note today, the United States is announcing the designation of Ousmane Illiassou Djibo as a specially designated global terrorist. Djibo is a senior leader and key lieutenant in ISIS Greater Sahara. This designation is part of our continuing effort to counter ISIS financing in Africa."
Presidenza della Repubblica (Public Domain)
https://www.quirinale.it/elementi/6366
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on June 28, 2021: "The attacks in these recent months show that Daesh can still be a threat and attract certain segments of the population. In order to consolidate the results achieved and limit the recruitment possibilities of Daesh and avoid its resurgence, we have to include civil initiatives to de-radicalize and stabilize the freed areas, giving social, economic conditions and opportunities to the local population so as to make them less vulnerable. We are promoting these initiatives bearing in mind the key principles of our international approach, safeguarding human rights and the rule of law being our topmost priorities.
"Despite the financial context, which has been worsened due to the pandemic, Italy is unswerving in its commitment in 2021. We have planned to increase the resources earmarked for these activities. Furthermore, we believe it is important to assess (inaudible) initiatives in favor of unaccompanied minors in (inaudible) camp, and to this end we are also in touch with players in the field.
"Given the complexity and comprehensive nature of this problem, we need to work together in a joint approach. We have to also take a comprehensive and targeted approach to dry up financial resources in the areas of activity of ISIS and in other parts of the world. This is the aim of the Counter ISIS Finance Group, which Italy co-chairs with the United State and Saudi Arabia.
"Although the Daesh threat in Iraq and Syria is key in our coalition's commitment, we must also take into consideration its global presence in the African continent and in the Sahel in particular. The stability of this region is crucial for Europe and the broader Mediterranean. I would like to thank the representatives from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mozambique who have accepted our invitation to attend today's meeting as observers.
"Italy will do its part. It will be committed to promoting peace and sustainable development in this area which is a priority for our foreign policy action. As I confirmed in our – my recent missions in the region, we will continue to reinforce our diplomatic presence, take part in main international missions, and make a contribution for a sustainable approach to migration via capacity building.
"Given the growing threat stemming from Daesh in Africa, I would like to propose to my coalition partners to take into account the possibility of creating a working group or a platform that can focus specifically on Africa. Such an initiative would also enable us to involve all African countries interested in making a contribution to our mutual benefit."
Joint Communiqué by Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS on June 28, 2021: "The Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS, reconvening in-person after two years, met today in Rome at the invitation of Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio and U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. The Ministers reaffirmed their shared determination to continue the fight against Daesh/ISIS, and to create conditions for the enduring defeat of the terrorist group, which remains the Coalition's sole purpose, through a comprehensive, coordinated, and multifaceted effort. The Ministers welcomed new members joining the Coalition – Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritania, and Yemen. Together the Ministers emphasized the protection of civilians as a priority and affirmed that international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable, as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions, must be upheld under all circumstances.
Joined Italian Foreign Minister @luigidimaio to share important updates from the Ministers Meeting on the @Coalition to Defeat ISIS. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the enduring defeat of this enemy across the globe. pic.twitter.com/FZioFHT5pt
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 28, 2021
"The Ministers committed to strengthening cooperation across all Coalition lines of effort in order to ensure that Daesh/ISIS Core in Iraq and Syria, and its affiliates and networks around the world are unable to reconstitute any territorial enclave or continue to threaten our homelands, people, and interests. The Ministers remain firmly united in our outrage at atrocities perpetrated by Daesh/ISIS and in our determination to eliminate this global threat, and stand alongside survivors and families of victims of Daesh/ISIS crimes working for accountability.
"Daesh/ISIS no longer controls territory and nearly eight million people have been freed from its control in Iraq and Syria, but the threat remains. The resumption in Daesh/ISIS activities and its ability to rebuild its networks and capabilities to target security forces and civilians in areas in Iraq and Syria where the Coalition is not active, requires strong vigilance and coordinated action. This includes allocating adequate resources to sustain Coalition and legitimate partner forces' efforts against Daesh/ISIS, and significant stabilization support, both to address the drivers that make communities vulnerable to recruitment by Daesh/ISIS and related violent ideological groups, as well as to provide support to liberated areas to safeguard our collective security interests. In this regard, the Ministers noted the 2021 Pledge Drive for Stabilization as an important means to help sustain the recovery of areas liberated from
"Daesh/ISIS and prevent its resurgence. The Ministers reaffirm that Daesh/ISIS will continue to be pressured by curbing its ability to raise revenue, enhancing information sharing on terrorists through bilateral and/or multilateral channels like INTERPOL, and fighting against Daesh/ISIS' toxic propaganda and denying the group space to exploit social media online.
"The Ministers acknowledged Iraq's efforts to counter Daesh/ISIS' remnants and prevent its resurgence, and commended the increased capacity of the Iraqi forces to combat Daesh/ISIS. Appropriate measures to enhance the operational efficiency and coordination of our collective efforts to maintain the necessary pressure on Daesh/ISIS remain essential. The Coalition operates in Iraq at the request of the Government of Iraq in full respect of Iraq's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and to the benefit of the Iraqi people. The Ministers firmly condemned the continuing attacks against Coalition personnel and convoys, and diplomatic facilities, emphasizing the importance of the Government of Iraq protecting Coalition assets. The Ministers welcomed the incremental expansion of NATO's non-combat advisory, training and capacity building mission in Iraq based on the requirements and consent of the Iraqi authorities and complementing the Coalition's efforts. The Ministers also welcomed the EU's support to the Iraqi authorities through the EUAM Iraq Mission.
"In Syria, the Coalition stands with the Syrian people in support of a lasting political settlement in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The Coalition must continue to be vigilant against the threat of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, to build on the success it has achieved and continue to act together against any threats to this outcome and to avoid security vacuums that Daesh/ISIS may exploit. The Coalition continues to support inclusive local recovery and stabilization in areas liberated from Daesh/ISIS and reconciliation and reintegration efforts to foster conditions conducive to a Syria-wide political resolution to the conflict under the parameters of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
"In a session of the meeting focused on the security situation in other continents and regions, particularly Africa, the Ministers noted with grave concern that Daesh/ISIS affiliates and networks in sub-Saharan Africa threaten security and stability, namely in the Sahel Region and in East Africa/Mozambique. The Coalition is committed to working with affected countries to address the threats posed by Daesh/ISIS in Africa to ensure the enduring global defeat of the organization upon the request and prior consent of the countries concerned, and in full respect of international law and in close coordination with existing initiatives, notably the Coalition for the Sahel and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum. The Ministers welcomed the presence of delegations from several African nations as observers to this ministerial meeting. The Ministers discussed that reinforcing civilian state institutions and consolidating the rule of law, including law enforcement capacity, will be an essential component of combatting Daesh/ISIS, and that the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS will seek to have effective engagement on the African continent. The Ministers tasked the Coalition Working Groups to assess ways in which they can contribute to counter Daesh/ISIS efforts in the affected regions. The Ministers also welcomed Afghanistan's efforts to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria-Khurasan (ISIS-K).
"Recognizing the challenge posed by foreign terrorist fighters who are in custody, as well as their family members who remain in Syria and Iraq, the Ministers committed to pursuing existing effective justice and accountability mechanisms in close coordination with the countries of origin. This also includes accountability for fighters who have used sexual violence as an instrument of terror. The Coalition remains committed to promoting efforts to ensure that accused terrorists, including those of foreign nationalities, are treated appropriately and tried consistently with applicable international law obligations, including fair trial guarantees, and urges the custodians of the detained Daesh/ISIS terrorists to treat them humanely at all times, in accordance with international law.  The Ministers further recognized that the situation for Daesh/ISIS detainees and family members in northeast Syria is of grave concern and recognized the importance of finding a comprehensive and long-term solution to this serious issue.
"The Coalition reaffirmed its belief that a comprehensive and collective effort remains necessary to achieve a full and enduring defeat of Daesh/ISIS worldwide. The Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS has proven that it is a cohesive, responsive tool that has achieved notable successes through military, political, stabilization, counter-messaging, financial, and law enforcement lines of effort.
"The Ministers also reaffirmed their intent to hold the next ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition by June 2022 and to hold a Small Group Political Directors Meeting in Brussels in the fall of 2021, circumstances pending."
U.S. Department of State Fact Sheet
Since 2014, the Coalition has carried out a comprehensive strategy to destroy and degrade ISIS. Milestones include:
Removing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October 2019 and scores of ISIS leaders;
Destroying 100 percent of ISIS's fraudulent territorial "caliphate;"
Liberating over 42,000 square miles and supporting the safe and voluntary return of nearly 8 million people from ISIS's brutal rule;
Addressing the root causes of support for ISIS through targeted justice and accountability assistance to local communities and survivors of ISIS atrocities;
Expanding the Coalition's global reach to 83 members, adding 4 partners since the last Ministerial - Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritania, and Yemen.
Coalition Members: 83 members, 78 nations, 5 institutions
Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, Tunisia
Americas: Canada, Panama, United States
Asia Pacific: Afghanistan, Australia, Fiji, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan
Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Middle East: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
Institutions: Arab League, CEN-SAD, EU, INTERPOL, NATO
Click here for the full text.
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Unite the USA
News: Stacie and Carrie Sing for Karen Pence and Gov. Kim Reynolds
December Edition: It's a Wonderful Life
November Edition: Every Day Should Be Veterans Day
October Edition: We All Can Make a Difference Through Prayer and Action
September Edition: God Bless the USA . . . A Call to Action and Prayer
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50 Years Since Apollo 11: A Story of Faith On the Moon
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June Edition: Abraham Lincoln's God-Given Dream: How it applies to our politically divided nation in
May Edition: Remembering Our Heroes
April Edition: Paul Revere, Jonathan Trumbull, and You
March Edition: The Importance of Education and Freedom
February Edition: The Good Samaritan was pro-life.
January Edition: Keep On Keeping On
Operation Honor Heroes
Operation Military Christmas
The Key to Personal Peace
Thank You, Veterans!
Support Our Troops and Veterans
Thank Our Heroes on July 4th
Des Moines Register Features Unite the USA
November Edition: The Importance of Veterans Day
Remember Veterans Day
Much like the modest veterans it honors, Veterans Day tends to quietly arrive and exit before the general public even takes note. Veterans Day is November 11. Are you ready?
With the inspiration and information held in this edition, you can be ready and able to encourage the veterans in your path. This should be a priority for every American.
It is time to honor and thank our nation's heroes. So many heroes are humble. They often look into the distance and say the real heroes are the "ones who didn't get to come back home."
When veterans say that to us, we frequently try to reply with this affirmative fact: We believe that all of the men and women who were willing to risk their lives for the sake of our freedom and safety are heroes.
As millennials on a mission, we are passionate because our veterans urgently need our appreciation and encouragement. Post traumatic stress, depression, and suicides are on a tragic rise among veterans of all ages. In addition to professional help, every honorable veteran deserves our encouragement, appreciation, and prayers -which make a big difference! Most Americans want to encourage veterans, but they don't know how. We make it easy for busy families to honor heroes. And it warms our hearts to hear how much it means to veterans and their families. Please join us and let us make it easy for you to reach out to veterans. Reaching out may even help to save a life of a veteran who fought for our lives. Click here to see ideas on how you can thank veterans.
This Veterans Day, do not let it go unnoticed. Do not let any veteran enter and exit your path without your acknowledgement. Thank them. Share a gift with them. Pray for them. (Join our prayer group at PrayingPals.org.)
Take time to thank them. And take time to thank God for them.
In God we still trust,
Carrie and Stacie Stoelting
Co-Founders of
UnitetheUSA.org
We're Sending Cards to Veterans
Stacie and Carrie are sending handwritten cards to every veteran whose address is shared with them. Give Stacie and Carrie the opportunity to send a thank you card to a veteran in your family or, if you're a veteran, let them send you one. It's easy. Fill out a quick form here so Stacie and Carrie can send a handwritten thank-you card. They would be honored to have the opportunity. (Yes, it's that simple.)
We'd be honored to send a card to a
veteran in your family. Thank you for
giving us the chance to thank them!
-Carrie and Stacie
5 Ways to Honor Heroes
1. Let us help you honor the heroes in your life. If you have a loved one who is a veteran or who is currently in the military, send Stacie and Carrie his or her picture, name, military branch, rank to info@unitetheusa.org. Unite the USA will post the information online as a way to honor and thank them.
2. Be sure to set aside time to thank our heroes. Thank them in person, on the phone, in a card, or through an e-mail.
3. During the summer months, many veterans and servicemen and women march in local parades. A good time to reach out and thank them is after the parade. Watch for their military distinctions on their jackets and hats. Just earnestly thank them. They will appreciate your appreciation.
4. Don't forget our hospitalized heroes or elderly veterans in nursing homes. Send a colorful card, send a gift, or stop by and visit. Note: In God We Still Trust and Unite the USA make great gift ideas! :)
5. Invite a veteran to dinner, send a gift card to their favorite restaurant, or order/deliver a meal for them. Take him or a her a gift. Just do something to show that you care and that you are grateful for their service.
This Month's Bible Verse
Featured Quote and Meme to Share
A Veterans Day Salute
Leo Thorsness, Medal of Honor, Vietnam War
Col. Leo Keith Thorsness (February 14, 1932 - May 2, 2017) served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He earned the Medal of Honor for his heroism and bravery. He was also a POW in North Vietnam for 6 years. Watch this video to hear his story. It reflects the heart of what it means to serve our country.
This Month's Historical Video
15,000 American Soldiers Return Home to New York (1945) | War Archives
This month's historical video features footage from 1945. You can see 15,000 American servicemen returning home to New York aboard the Queen Elizabeth. It shows the excitement to have our heroes come home!
Kathi Macias
Home for Christmas. Isn't that where we all want to be at that very special time of year? Yet there are thousands of men and women serving in our military who would consider it Christmas any time of year if they could just come back home.
My dad served in the Army in World War II, and though he's been with Jesus now for more than fifteen years, I still feel the sting of tears in my eyes and the swell of pride in my heart when I see pictures of him in his uniform. I will never forget the many stories he told me about those years, especially the warm welcome they received when they finally returned home.
Sadly it wasn't like that for my husband, who served in the Air Force from 1966-1970, including a year in Thailand and Vietnam. His homecoming wasn't nearly as warm or memorable as my dad's. So many of our military members during the Vietnam war era came home to boos and jeers and taunts of "baby killer." Some of the vets from that time have never really "come home," instead finding themselves struggling to maintain jobs or relationships-or even a roof over their head.
My son's experience was quite different from both my father's and husband's. He was in the Army on 9-11. Dressed in his uniform, he flew home for a visit a few weeks later. He said everywhere he went people came up to thank him for his service and to encourage him in facing the dangerous unknowns that lay ahead.
Over the years, our support for our servicemen has run hot and cold, with our Vietnam vets receiving some of the worst treatment. But even today, when active military and veterans are applauded and appreciated, there are many who come home in body only-and often those bodies are damaged and changed forever.
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) has been around for as long as there have been wars (or other extremely stressful situations). Until fairly recently, however, it wasn't officially recognized as a distinct disorder. Instead we referred to vets coping with PTSD symptoms as having "shell-shock" or "battle fatigue." We assumed that, with time, the symptoms would disappear and the vets would move on with their lives. We have since learned that isn't always the case.
Technically, PTSD is described as "an anxiety disorder that can develop after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as major stress, sexual assault, warfare, or other threats on a person's life. Symptoms include disturbing recurring flashbacks, avoidance or numbing of memories of the event, and hyperarousal, continuing for more than a month after the occurrence of a traumatic event."[1] It is easy to see why military personnel returning from combat could fit into that description.
Today, when many members of our military serve multiple deployments, often in war zones, it is highly likely that a great number of them will come home with emotional issues. Not all those issues are severe enough to qualify as PTSD, but these brave men and women may need resources beyond those provided for them by the VA (Veterans' Association).
John was serving his second deployment in Afghanistan when his father died of a heart attack. It took several days for the news to reach him, and then several more until he could get home. Though everyone assured him there was nothing he could have done to help his father avoid the fatal heart attack, he couldn't shake his feeling of guilt for not having been there to help his mother through those first difficult days.
Julie had been in the Navy for less than two years when she was deployed for six months. Though she didn't serve directly in a combat zone, the stress of being away from her two young children-even though she knew they were in the loving care of their father-led her to change her plans of pursuing a military career. Instead she opted out of the military when her initial term of service was fulfilled. To this day she struggles with the guilt of not being there for her children during those six months.
Manny's issues ran a lot deeper. He was a Marine serving his third deployment in the Middle East when he found himself not feeling well during his shift on guard duty. When his sergeant noticed how pale he looked, he sent him to get checked out by a medic. In the meantime, another Marine came to take Manny's place.
Just minutes after Manny left his post and another stepped up to finish Manny's guard duty, the post was hit by a car bomb. The two suicide bombers in the car were killed, but so were three Marines, including the one who had taken Manny's place. Three years later, Manny still struggles with guilt over the incident. He has been on medication and in counseling ever since. In addition, his marriage has fallen apart and he has trouble finding and keeping a job.
John, Julie, and Manny all came home from deployment with varying degrees of guilt and anxiety. Whether or not their symptoms qualify as PTSD, all three need help and encouragement to readjust and resume civilian life. So how can we help?
One of the simplest ways I've found to encourage returning military or veterans is to make a point to thank them for their service. This is especially helpful with Vietnam vets who, for the most part, did not receive warm welcomes or words of gratitude when they returned.
Another means of helping our military (while they're away on deployment and/or when they return) is to get involved with an organization such as the USO (United Services Organization). This long-standing group has a proven track record of helping our military, and they offer various ways to get involved in giving that help. Many local churches and Christian organizations also provide numerous ways to assist our military. An excellent Christian organization that ministers to vets and active military personnel is "Operation Heal Our Patriots," a part of Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse ministries. Some of these opportunities are as simple as writing letters to lonely soldiers on the other side of the world, or packing and sending a box of treats to let a few sailors know how much they are appreciated.
If you or someone you know has a loved one serving in the military and away on deployment, you might ask about their plans when they return. Will they continue serving, or are they looking to end their military service and transition back to civilian life? Rather than waiting until they're back to start looking for resources that might fit their particular needs, why not search online and within your community to pull those resources together before they return?
We all love those heart-tugging pictures or videos of soldiers coming home to their families, don't we? The soldier steps out of a plane and crosses the tarmac into his or her loved one's arms; the sailor stands on deck as the ship steams into port, scanning the crowd until he sees his family, eagerly waiting for that special moment of reunion.
But what about those who have no one waiting to welcome them home? Perhaps a loved one died or even deserted them; perhaps there never was anyone to see them off, let alone welcome them home. At a time when most in our country seek to honor our military and show appreciation for their sacrifices and commitment, how can we effectively do something to help those who have no one waiting when they return?
First, speak with your pastor/clergyman and ask if he/she is aware of any such ministry or local organization that makes a point to encourage the military while they're away and then welcome them home at the end of their deployment. If you are unable to find anything local, the USO would be a perfect place to get the information you need to get involved. Not only would you be cheering up a service man or woman by writing to them while they're away on deployment, but you could request that you be assigned someone who lives near enough to you that you could welcome that soldier or sailor home when the tour of duty is over.
Then, of course, there are the veterans' homes and hospitals around the country that would welcome a group or an individual to come and cheer up these men and women who gave so much to protect and defend our country and its unique freedoms. If there is a veterans' home or hospital in your area, there will certainly be a church or organization already visiting there on a regular basis, which you could join. If not, perhaps you're the one God will use to initiate such a ministry.
None of these methods of helping our active military and veterans is difficult or overly time-consuming, and they can be tailored to meet your abilities. It could be as little as a couple of hours per month, but those few hours can mean more to a hurting soldier or sailor than we could ever imagine.
Christmas is nearly upon us. Wouldn't this be the perfect time to reach out to our present or former military personnel and welcome them "home for Christmas"? And because we know the Christ of Christmas, we can extend that Christmas welcome all year long.
[1] American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. pp 271-280. ISBN 978-0-89042-555-8.
About Kathi Macias
Kathi Macias (www.kathimacias.com) is an award-winning writer with nearly 50 books to her credit, including Return to Christmas, a novel about a serviceman with PTSD.
A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women's clubs and retreats, and writers' conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Her novel set in China, Red Ink, was named Golden Scrolls 2011 Novel of the Year and was also a Carol Award Finalist; her October 2012 release, Unexpected Christmas Hero, was named 2012 Book of the Year by BookandAuthors.net. A wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Kathi lives in Southern California with her husband, Al.
Featured Founding Father
Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 to April 17, 1790) was a very accomplished American scientist, inventor, politician, philanthropist and business man. He is best known as one of our Founding Fathers and the only one who signed all three documents that freed America from Britain: The Declaration of Independence. The American Constitution and The Treaty of Paris.
As a scientist and inventor, his accomplishments included inventing bifocal glasses. Franklin is also created for publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette and Poor Richard's Almanack.
Unite the USA: Discover the ABCs of Patriotism is a new book by Stacie Ruth and Carrie Beth Stoelting. It's a book that empowers patriots to make a big difference in the land we love. With 100+ ways to make a positive difference in America, Unite the USA is a must-have tool for patriots. Unite the USA will inspire and educate Americans to defend faith and freedom. (Important Note: All proceeds go to fund the mission of UnitetheUSA.org.) Order it here today!
In God We Still Trust
an inspiring album dedicated to God and veterans
by Stacie and Carrie Stoelting
Per request from veterans who love patriotic and inspiring music sung by Stacie and Carrie, In God We Still Trust was recorded. From the National Anthem to "God Bless America" you will be inspired and uplifted about our God-given freedoms. All proceeds go to Unite the USA. Help promote faith and freedom in America. Your support is important and appreciated. Buy or download a copy today. God bless you as you celebrate the red, white, and blue!
In God We Still Trust Video
Our country needs to turn to Jesus. Listen to "In God We Still Trust" for inspiration to keep "fighting the good fight". For hope and encouragement, listen to Stacie Ruth and Carrie Beth sing "In God We Still Trust".
Share and Sign Up
Be sure to share this edition with your friends. Sign up for Unite the USA's free monthy e-mail here!
Celebrate the true spirit of America with Carrie Beth and Stacie Ruth. Book Stacie and Carrie for concert or conference! E-mail info@unitetheusa.org for more information.
Unite the USA, www.unitetheusa.org


The IOM's recommendations do not differentiate between male and female, and they do not distinguish between women who might be pregnant, or breastfeeding, and the general population. They recommend that the vitamin D requirements of a 1 year old child and an adult should be the same.
But does that make sense? Nature gives people different skin sizes after all, and larger skins will naturally make more vitamin D than smaller ones.
It is hard to reconcile the newly published recommendations of the IOM with modern research on vitamin D. This research links low vitamin D with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and many other major and minor diseases. The amount of vitamin D required to protect against these conditions is much greater than that required for protection against rickets and osteomalacia.
The IOM does not seem to take these new facts adequately into consideration, even though they now recommend 600 IU for younger adults, instead of their previous benchmark of 200 IU. That earlier recommendation remained in force for 13 years, even though it was quite inadequate.
This is what they may be trying to say: A vitamin D blood level of 16 ng/ml would be enough for half the population, but for nearly everyone to have enough, the level needs to be 20 ng/ml. From this we can estimate how much vitamin D people need to take, if they do not get much sunshine.
But is the IOM aiming at the right target?
People whose vitamin D levels are above 40 ng/ml are less susceptible to a wide range of major and minor diseases than are people with vitamin D levels of 20 ng/ml, according to several medical and scientific studies.
For many diseases (e.g. breast cancer, several other cancers, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis) the improvement in disease incidence continues until vitamin D levels reach 50 ng/ml or higher. See chart Disease Incidence by Serum 25(OH)D.
Many people who spend their days in sunlight (farmers, builders, hunters, field-workers, fishermen etc.) naturally maintain vitamin D blood levels of 50 to 80 ng/ml, without any supplementation. (Most of mankind and his ancestors have lived this way for millions of years.) See Dr Heaney's paper "Vitamin D in Health and Disease".
Considering their silence on vitamin D for the past 13 years, the IOM's latest recommendations are a disappointment.
Most medical doctors, nutritionists and dieticians are only vaguely aware of the latest vitamin D research, and don't have time to put it all together. So they just rely on the recommendations of their medical institute.
Because of these new recommendations, those health professionals will continue to believe that vitamin D deficiency is a relatively rare condition, easily corrected by a small (and ineffective) dose of vitamin D.
This is most unfortunate for hundreds of millions of people around the world who are already suffering from the increased disease burden of chronic vitamin D deficiency – and may continue to do so.
Do we need a Vitamin D RDA?
In a way, it is a pity that the IOM has published a vitamin D RDA at all. It may encourage us to oversimply a complex issue.
Vitamin D is more of a hormone than a vitamin. With a hormone, the usual practice is first to establish the healthy range for blood levels, then to measure the individual's blood level, to see how it compares. Only then can anyone decide how much of the hormone that person needs to take, if any.
To maintain a healthy vitamin D level of 50 ng/ml, different people may require anything from zero to 20,000 IU of oral vitamin D3 per day. If you set one RDA for everyone, wherever you set it will be wrong for most people!
Individual needs for oral vitamin D vary widely, and these variations cannot always be predicted, even when body mass and the amount of sunlight exposure is known. But it would help if the recommendation were linked to body mass–for example 60 IUs of vitamin D3 per kg of body mass– and also to a given level of sun exposure.
Are commercial or political issues influencing the vitamin D RDA?
At first glance, you might not think so. After all, vitamin D3 is a very inexpensive supplement, so there's little money in it.
But cancer, heart disease and diabetes are all associated with vitamin D deficiency, together with dozens of other major and minor health challenges. The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries make billions of dollars from treating these diseases.
Their profits will remain high as long as people remain vitamin D deficient.
Shouldn't the government protect us from corporate greed? They should, but in this instance they may not want to. Governments get huge tax revenues – and political parties receive massive campaign contributions – from wealthy pharmaceutical corporations. So why would governments (or even the opposition) want to jeopardise those funds?
And governments, despite what we would like to believe, may not wish for the people they serve to live longer.
To take a cynical view, governments' financial interests are best served when you work longer (pay more tax) but die sooner (less pension to pay out).
So whose interests are being served by the IOM's 2010 vitamin D RDA pronouncement? Not yours, gentle reader.
Although the IOM has failed to show the way, more-enlightened medical professionals, and some of the media are putting together the whole vitamin D story, and catching on to vitamin D's full potential.
No doubt even the IOM will get there eventually. But you may not want to wait for them. They've only increased their recommended intake by 400 IU in the last 13 years. At this rate it would take them 143 more years to reach 5000 IU (an effective dose for many adults). Ho-hum.
In the meanwhile, none of us is getting any younger.
You need to decide for yourself about vitamin D supplementation. You will want your decision to be well-informed, and based on sound science and common sense, because optimum vitamin D is critically important for your health.
What is optimum for you? See How to Calculate Your Personal Vitamin D Dosage.


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BagoGames > Articles > Game Reviews > Indie Game Reviews > EarthNight Review – Here Be Dragons
EarthNight Review – Here Be Dragons
Skydiving dragon murder has never been so accessible
by Endyo
in Game Reviews, Indie Game Reviews, Nintendo Switch Reviews, PC Reviews
EarthNight DEALS
Historically, "runner" games have not been a genre I've given much time. I've always seen them as mobile games or as games involving very precise jump/slide timing and little else. If EarthNight was one of those games, I probably wouldn't review it at all. However, while it does possess some qualities of a "runner" game, it does more to become an interesting title.
What the hell is happening?
The strange premise of EarthNight is that dragons have taken over the Earth. These dragons don't seem particularly violent in the initial cutscene, but it appears that people are pretty unhappy about their existence. So in response, you take the role of either Syd or Stan as they attempt to rid the world of this flying menace.
That doesn't explain what is happening in the gameplay, though, because it's stranger still. Once you select a character, you leap out the door of your spaceship and dive onto the backs of one of the dragons. Then you run along its back jumping on and over various enemies as you push ever to the right of your screen. On the way, you collect mountains of random junk that becomes your currency.
Once you make your way to the head of the dragon, you unceremoniously leap onto and stab the sweet hell out of it. This action is a little unexpected given the rest of the design, but it's in there. This mechanic is a bit of a minigame itself as different types of dragons require specific stabbing methods and patterns.
It can be a little hard to grasp at first but becomes easier as you go. Whether you successfully kill the dragon or not, you continue your dive downward until you beat the game or die in the process.
EarthNight is a very colorful and vibrant game throughout. The dragons distinguish themselves by their color and appearance, but the many enemies on their backs are also a menagerie of odd colorful monsters. Silly animations give life to the hand-drawn art style and make every new enemy you encounter a treat. Of course, you can't linger too long because they'll totally kill you.
The quality of the visual design extends to the mountains of items you pick up. These random trinkets and junk, once collected, are turned into water at your ship. This water is what you use to unlock the various pickups in-game as well as for upgrades. Progression in this system comes quickly, but because it involves actually picking up the items, it doesn't automatically make the game easier. Yet, missing an item you need can mean the difference in winning or losing a run.
The further down you go in the Earth's atmosphere, the stranger the creatures on the backs of the dragons get. They are often larger and become unavoidable without quick reactions or buffs from pickups. The pickups you unlock ultimately become a requirement if you want to survive, even if you're exceptionally nimble. There's just too much on-screen to dodge and it starts to feel like a traffic jam.
Sky Dragons in Flight, Is It a Delight?
Despite my general avoidance of "runner" games, I found some fun in EarthNight. I think it was the fact that you still have some lateral movement available. Rather than always running at a fixed speed, you can speed up or slow down a bit and your speed changes with how effective you are at jumping on enemies.
That made it feel more like a typical platformer, and it worked for me. Though I was still frustrated when I'd miss a pickup by an inch without the ability to go back.
EarthNight also features some decent chiptune-style music. Even just on the menu, I was surprised at how catchy it was. All across the board, the game feels like it's comprised of quality parts. The combination of fun visuals and at least a little of that "one more run" itch kept me interested in the game for a while too.
However, ultimately, I don't think it's the game for me. That doesn't mean it's not a good game, it's clearly got everything going for it. I just don't enjoy fighting so hard to find the rhythm in the movement. I would much rather have full control of my character in a platformer.
There are many fans of runner games out there, of that I am sure, and this game is definitely for them. It would be a shame if more people didn't check it out. I had more fun with it than I assumed I would for being part of a genre that I'm not in to. Getting EarthNight on sale may be a smart choice if you're unsure about it, because currently there is no available demo. At a low enough price, it's worth it just to see all of the wild designs.
If you'd like to see more Indie game reviews, check out Ritual: Crown of Horns or Outworld Battlegrounds.
EarthNight
7 Score
EarthNight is a sidescrolling platformer "runner" game that features vibrant creatures and environments for you to leap onto and over. The rich style of the game is visually appealing, but the gameplay lacks the substance necessary to hold interest for very long.
Beautiful and colorful world design/enemies
Competent runner-styled platforming
Solid chiptune soundtrack
Limited overall gameplay
Frustrating maneuvering in later levels
Not enough story or setting conveyance
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Tags: EarthNightEarthNight reviewIndie Games
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Horizon Zero Dawn May be Coming to PC Soon


For Church Micro 4050...Wells Cathedral, for that note how many faces appear on the east stained glass window it's worth looking from inside the church as it's a great little church and include the one figure who's face you can't see and keep that for future reference.
The Church of St Leonard in Rodney Stoke, Somerset, England, was built around 1175 and is a Grade I listed building. The interior of the church contains a screen, bearing the date 1624, the gift of Sir Edward Rodney, which includes a representation of the martyrdom of St Erasmus, who was killed by having his entrails removed. The church underwent Victorian restoration in the 1870s when a slow combustion stove was installed in a pit in the floor.
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