Daily Archives: November 12, 2019

Jennie Taylor greets audience members after speaking about the price of freedom at the Spilsbury Mortuary on Nov. 11, 2019.(Photo: Kaitlyn Bancroft)

Multiple people wiped away tears as Jennie Taylor asked a pivotal question throughout her Veterans Day address: Was it worth it?

Taylor is the widow of former North Ogden mayor and Utah National Guard member Brent Taylor, who was killed on Nov. 3, 2018, while serving in Afghanistan.

A year and eight days after his death, she spoke at the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel in St. George Monday about the price of freedom, asking if the sacrifices of all those who have ever served in the military were worth the freedom that America enjoys.

Jennie Taylor, holds her 2-year-old son Jonathan, as she says a few words during a candlelight vigil, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in front of her home in North Ogden for her husband Brent Taylor, was killed Saturday in an insider attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)(Photo: Rick Egan, AP)

Her answer: It is absolutely, without a doubt, unequivocally worth it.

At the time her husband died, she considered those sacrifices in a deeper, more personal and more profound way than she ever could have imagined, as she wondered if her husbands sacrifice was worth her seven children being deprived of a father and her community receiving a twelfth Gold Star.

But she recalled the lessons of her fifth grade teacher, who, at the time of the Berlin Wall falling and Saddam Hussein invading Kuwait, taught her to stand for what is right, to spread liberty and justice for all, and to be proud to be an American.

Jennie Taylor speaks about the price of freedom at the Spilsbury Mortuary on Nov. 11, 2019.(Photo: Kaitlyn Bancroft)

My journey as an American patriot began long before I ever knew or loved Brent Taylor, she said. And I know its true that long before he ever knew and loved me, we both knew we loved America.

Taylor said her husbands legacy is not his own; rather, his life was built on the legacy of every member of the military who came before him and every member that continues to come after him.

And she knows he was willing to sacrifice all, she said, because he said so in writing. In 2011, on the way to his third deployment to the Middle East, Brent Taylor wrote in his journal that his purpose as a soldier was far greater than his own family and his own life.

I go so that I can hold my head up among my proud fore-bearers who have fought for our country, he wrote in a passage that his wife shared. I go to do my part to keep my country and my family safe. I would go even if I knew I would die, because I am honor-bound to go and serve.

American Legion members conduct the Posting of the Colors ceremony prior to Jennie Taylor's speech at the Spilsbury Mortuary chapel on Nov. 11, 2019.(Photo: Kaitlyn Bancroft)

Jennie Taylor then asked if each person feels the same sense of honor her husband did, and emphasized that veterans are honored by the way each person lives his or her life.

We best honor those who have given their lives for us by making something of honor out of the lives that they have given to us, she said.

She also acknowledged sacrifices of all types, such as parents who send their children off to basic training; soldiers who have served in peacetime; soldiers who signed up in times of war; soldiers who served in lesser known battles; and soldiers who come home to survivors guilt, post-traumatic stress disorder and other challenges.

The price of freedom is incredibly high to those of us who feel weve been called upon to help pay it, she said. But the value of freedom is immeasurable to everyone who loves this great country And I can tell you it is worth it. It will forever be worth it.

It is up to us to make sure that is always worth it.

Kaitlyn Bancroft reports on faith, health, education and under-served communities for The Spectrum & Daily News, a USA TODAY Network newsroom in St. George, Utah. She's a graduate of Brigham Young University's journalism program, and has previously written for The Denver Post, The Daily Universe, Deseret News and the Davis Clipper. You can reach her at KBancroft@thespectrum.com, or follow her on Twitter @katbancroft.

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On Veterans Day, Jennie Taylor says the price of freedom 'is always worth it' - The Spectrum

If you want to increase a countrys wealth and life expectancy, while decreasing its infant mortality and poverty rates, make its people freer.

Those are some of the findings in the 2019 Economic Freedom of the World Report from the Fraser Institute, a Canadian think tank. It annually compares the level of freedom in countries across the globe in categories such as size of government, property rights and access to international trade. The United States ranked fifth, up from 16th in 2016. The freest countries in the world are Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Switzerland. The least-free countries are Sudan, Libya and, in last place, Venezuela.

The report divides the 162 countries it examined into quarters. This provides overwhelming evidence that freedom makes people wealthy and healthy. Countries in the top quartile of economic freedom have an average GDP of $36,800 per capita. In the bottom quartile, the average GDP is $6,100. Thats a six-fold difference.

In the most-free countries, the average income of the poorest 10 percent is $10,600. Thats 73 percent higher than the average GDP, which is roughly equivalent to income, in the poorest countries. In the most-free countries, the moderate poverty rate, those living on $3.20 a day or less, is 5 percent. In the least-free countries, its 43 percent.

Even with less money to go around, countries with fewer economic freedoms dont have less income inequality. In those countries, the poorest 10 percent have 2.53 percent of a countrys income. In the most-free countries, its 2.75 percent of income.

People living in free countries live longer, too. In the most-free countries, the average life expectancy is almost 80. In the least free countries, its 65. The infant mortality rate is 6.7 per 1,000 in the top quartile of free countries. In the bottom quartile, its 40.5 per 1,000.

Economic freedom is also associated with greater political rights and civil liberties. Theres also a correlation between economic freedom and happiness, as measured by the U.N. World Happiness Index.

These findings should give pause to those intrigued by the collectivist plans of Democratic presidential candidates. The best way to improve peoples lives is to get government out of the way to the greatest extent possible. Theres also a lesson here for President Donald Trump. Its counterproductive to use tariffs to restrict international trade unless it involves national security.

The evidence couldnt be more overwhelming. Democracy and individual freedoms create the conditions that produce prosperity.

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EDITORIAL: The dramatic link between freedom and prosperity - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Veterans stood proudly as they were honored across the Central Coast on Monday.

In Atascadero, hundreds of people gathered for the 12th annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Faces of Freedom Memorial.

Veterans were treated to songs performed by the Atascadero Academy of Arts Choir and SLO County Trumpet Alliance.

They also received handmade quilts from Quilts of Valor, a group that sews quilts to comfort and heal veterans.

One of the founders of the Atascadero Veterans Memorial Foundation , LeRoy Dodge, was excited to see his quilt. He said he was more excited and even surprised to be honored with the "Veteran of the Year" award.

"It's unbelievable. I didn't deserve this. The people that built this deserve that honor," said Dodge, a World War II Navy veteran.

Dodge, an Atascadero High School graduate, enlisted early in the Navy during World War II, serving as a Radioman Third Class on a Patrol Craft Escort until the war ended in 1945.

Greg McGill runs Central Coast Honor Flight, an organization dedicated to taking veterans to their respective war memorial sites.

McGill spoke at the ceremony and explained what it meant to be a veteran.

"From boot camp, to deployments around the world, to missing holidays with their families and just the sacrifice they made," McGill said. "They were willing to lay down their lives when the entered into the military, not knowing if we would be going to war or not."

The Atascadero Veterans Memorial Foundation invites not just the community of Atascadero, but the entire county to stop by and give thanks to our Central Coast heroes.

It's a place where people can remember our veterans not just on Veterans Day, but every day.

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Local News Local heroes honored at the Faces of Freedom Veterans Day Ceremony in Atascadero Megan - KSBY San Luis Obispo News

Freedom Never Dies

The Sojourners | thesojourners.ca

All opinions on the film and accompanying album aside, there is no denying that Kanye Wests Jesus is King has given gospel music more attention than it usually gets. The Donald Trump-adoring rappers take on the whole Jesus thing appears to be more about his personal relationship to the Lord being better than everyone elses, and trying to sell merchandise. But true gospel music as a genre has its heart in community, caring and civil rights.

The Vancouver-based trio the Sojourners all grew up within the American gospel church tradition. The award-winning groups fourth recording, Freedom Never Dies, begins with a song about famed Florida NAACP activist Harry Moore, and ends with a pledge to Rise Up.

Marcus Mosely (Rails, Tex.), Will Sanders (Alexandria, La.) and Khari Wendell McClelland (Detroit) came together after blues artist Jim Byrnes contacted Mosely to see if he could bring together some singers to perform backup vocals for Byrnes coming album. Everything gelled so well that a new groups career was launched.

From festival stages to church concerts, the Sojourners imbues its music with spirit and passion, and no ego. Here are five things to know about Freedom Never Dies:

1: Freedom Never Dies. No bomb can kill the dreams I hold, for freedom never dies. So declares the opening title track that tells the story of Harry T. Moore and Harriette V.S. Moore, pioneering Florida civil rights leaders and activists who were killed after a bomb was placed under their bedroom floor on Christmas night 1951 exploded. It was the first assassination of any activist to occur during the nascent civil rights movement, but it certainly wouldnt be the last. The song may recount events from 67 years ago, but it could be from a headline today. Either way, the rallying cry of the song keeps being echoed by new generations of fighters.

2: When humming is enough. Great gospel singing is as much about emotional expression as targeted lyrics. The way that Oh Freedom (the classic post-Civil War African-American freedom ballad) opens with nothing more than the group harmonizing with some hmmm-mmm-mmm vocalizing instantly connects to some inner-emotion generator. Its a pure sound, one that the group said that fans wanted to hear more of on the first new recording from the group in five years. We want to hear your voices more! heralds the news release. And did they ever deliver on that request with this EP.

3: Rise Up. The shortest song on the album closes it out with a singalong set to a single bass drum, hand claps and a tambourine as the singers bob-and-weave through a beautifully metered lyric about the gates of the city opening wide and bearing the name of the 12 tribes of Israel. For those looking for the answer to that obvious trivia question, it is: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim and Manasseh. The 12 tribes descended all sons or grandsons from Jacob to whom God gave the name Israel. The 12 tribes are described in the Bible and the Quran.

4: Naturalistic production. Every release from the Sojourners has been characterized by great production, but Freedom Never Dies is the best by far. The way that the natural resonance of voices singing in unison is captured on the recording isnt only like being in the room with the trio, its also a perfect introduction to each members unique range. No song delivers this better than Lift Every Voice.

5: Future concerts. To truly appreciate the Sojourners, one has to see them perform. On their own, or with Byrnes, the trio is easily one of the best of its kind on the circuit today. Keep an eye on thesojourners.ca calendar for upcoming performances.

Also out this week:

The Dreadnoughts

Into the North | Stomp Records

This enduring East Vancouver crew has a proven track record for selling suds from coast-to-coast-to-coast and well beyond. Without doubt, the chant-alongs such as Fire Marengo or joyous jigs such as Harpers Frolic Bonny Kate are the sort of thing to get any crowd in a right fine mood. While the band has held its own in punk rock dives and folk festivals alike, Into the North certainly favours the acoustic folky side of things and the addition of some Quebeois tunes such as Pique La Baleine and Joli Rouge is a nice touch. Anyone covering Stan Rogers timeless Northwest Passage or anything else by the late folky is risky. They do the song justice. Plus, the guys have their own custom cider for this album.

Dec. 14, Astoria Hotel. Tickets and info: $20 at eventbrite.ca

Kaeli

Secret | kaelimcarter.com

A self-described indie singer-songwriter living near the edge of the ocean, Kaeli crafts immediately familiar electropop that sounds as radio ready as can be. The title track rides along on a shimmering keyboard passage, dropping into echoing chants and layer-upon-layer of orchestration. La La Land chimes in with a bell passage that bounces around your head if youve got headphones on and then gets into a solid skittering dance groove. There are big, hooky choruses in Haunt Me and Round 2, and the chorus in Freedom (feat. Alex Helton) is downright funky. From the incredibly inventive promo kit that the artist provided with her album to sharp earlier videos, Kaeli is very aware of what shes after and Secret shows it.

Moon Duo

Stars are the Light | Sacred Bones

Portland psyche crew Moon Duo moves beyond its obvious Suicide and Spaceman 3 pulsations on its latest album. Instead, Wooden Ships guitarist Ripley Johnson and sonic cohort Sanae Yamada expands its approach to incorporate much mellower terrain. Where all the bands previous work was imbued with more than a dash of eye-of-newt occult weirdness, new songs such as Lost Heads owe as much to 80s electro-disco as any acid vibes. Fall (In Your Love) is almost like a dub mix of something the Pop Group might have done in the 80s and the guitar riffs on Eternal Shore are like some missing avant-garde surf music from the Bay Area noise rock scene of the 90s. All together, it amounts to the most interesting and genuinely psychedelic album from the band to date.

Nov. 27, 9 p.m. Fox Cabaret, 2321 Main St. Tickets and info: $26.63 at ticketweb.ca

Swans

Leaving Meaning | Young God Records

On its 15th studio album, Michael Gira brings in members of Angels of Light, Anna and Maria von Hausswolff, Ben Frost, the Necks, Baby Dee, a Hawk and a Hacksaw and more to craft a dozen new sonic explorations into the recesses of his mind. Easily one of the nicest sounding records the band has released to date, it still manages to deliver the kind of disturbing, compulsive grooves that made earlier records often get described as terrifying. Just check out the droning, hypnotic The Hanging Man or The Nub, with its almost avant-garde jazz tinges. Always loaded with layered percussions, the resulting music made is akin to the chamber pop of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds married to the parts of the Bowery you can never scrape off of your boots once youve stepped in it. Since 1982, Swans and Giras various offshoot groups have all held fast to his dark, claustrophobic lyricism and arranging. And they just keep getting better.

sderdeyn@postmedia.com

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Five things to know about Freedom Never Dies, by the Sojourners - Vancouver Sun

A film and new typeface inspired by original graffiti from the Berlin Wall have been created as part of a campaign to mark the 30th anniversary since its fall.

Called Voice of the Wall, the campaign's film in which we hear sirens, dogs barking and gunshots depicts the suffering the Wall witnessed. It ends with the warning, "Division is freedoms biggest threat".

The font, meanwhile, is available for everyone to download and use, and the campaign encourages us to make our own statements for freedom, using the anniversary typeface. The statements will be collected and later turned into a book which will be sent as a message to the current leaders of the world.

The idea was created by HEIMAT Berlin for street art association, The Cultural Heirs, a non-profit association committed to integration and violence prevention as well as the prevention of discrimination and inequalities in society.

The campaign explores the threat walls of all kinds can pose worldwide. The starting point was the question: If walls could talk, what would the Berlin Wall say today? "In this way, the typeset allows the Wall a voice and the ability to make a statement about freedom in our world today," explains HEIMAT.

The typeface has been designed using the 26 letters in the alphabet each taken from actual graffiti from the Berlin Wall, which became a politically-charged canvas for numerous street artists over the years.

Matthias Storath from HEIMAT, Berlin, said: "Street art and iconic design can have a dramatic impact on culture, and creating a campaign to celebrate freedom and warn about division to mark this important anniversary was very meaningful to us. We hope that this project will help remind audiences of our hard-won freedoms, which we must cherish and enjoy."

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Make a statement for freedom with a new typeface inspired by original graffiti from the Berlin Wall - Creative Boom

Internet freedom has declined in the U.S. and worldwide in 2019 for the ninth consecutive year, according to a report released by Freedom House.

Out of 65 countries reviewed in the report, 33 have experienced an overall decline in internet freedom since June 2018, compared to 16 countries which have seen an increase. The largest internet freedom declines occurred in Sudan and Kazakhstan, followed by Brazil, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

The report detailed how leaders of countries have used social media as propaganda, calling out China, Iran and Saudi Arabia in particular. A new high record of 38 out of the 65 countries had political leaders who recruited others to shape online opinions.

The authors alsosaid authorities are using social media surveillance to track citizens, reducing civil liberties around the world, with 47 countries having arrested users for political, social and religious speech, another record high.

China was named the worlds worst abuser of internet freedom for the fourth consecutive year, with censorship increasing on the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre and with ongoing protests in Hong Kong.

The researchers named Iceland as the best protector of internet freedom.

Ethiopia was cited has experienced the most progress in internet freedom because of the prime ministers efforts to reduce restrictions. But the authors noted that the majority of improved internet freedom scores were marginal.

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Internet freedom declined in the US and worldwide this year: report | TheHill - The Hill

Kids clamored over candy tossed from floats as a few handfuls even soared to the open second-story windows of Sumter's soon-to-be first brewery, construction workers taking a break to watch the parade pass by beneath.

Hundreds gathered along Main Street Monday morning for the annual Veterans Day parade that marched toward the old courthouse, where Sumter County's official ceremony took place and culminated with a food-filled celebration and meet and greet.

The ceremony has been held annually since 1996, according to Valerie Brunson, director of Sumter County Veterans Affairs. She has been with the Sumter VA for eight years and started the parade and subsequent meet and greet six years ago.

This year was the biggest yet.

"We always come here for this parade. It's a good one," said veteran Andre Laperle, daughter on his shoulders and son at his side.

The parade featured about 100 groups, and parade-watchers waved to airmen and soldiers from the 20th Fighter Wing and U.S. Army Central, both of which are headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter. They were entertained by marching bands from Sumter's Sumter, Crestwood and Lakewood high schools and Clarendon County's Scott's Branch High School.

The youngest attendees covered their ears for honks from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, Sumter Police Department, Sumter Fire Department, Sumter Utilities and even the loud horn coming from the small Jamil Shriners truck.

Brunson, Sumter's VA director, said the city and county work hard to stay true to Sumter's motto of "uncommon patriotism."

Veterans permeate Sumter. They are business owners, and they are doctors. They are lawyers, community leaders, elected officials, teachers, historians, taxpayers.

"Honoring them is something I love to do," Brunson said. "We've got to remember what they've done and the sacrifices they have made for our country."

'The strength of our nation'

Brunson and her team wrangled the day together, complete with five ROTC groups, representatives from all the veterans organizations in Sumter, a veteran-owned shaved ice truck, multiple Girl Scout troops and a Sumter firefighter and Continental manager dressed as Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam.

Lt. Gen. Terry Ferrell, commanding general of USARCENT, which provides land domain oversight, support and services for U.S. Central Command in the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia and traces its storied lineage to World War II Gen. George Patton's Third Army, served as the parade's grand marshal and ceremony's keynote speaker.

Veterans Day demonstrates the "strength of our nation," he said.

It doesn't matter the color of the uniform. The chairs at the front of the crowd spilling across the old courthouse lawn, reserved for veterans, sported a spectrum of colors. Dress blues and camouflage greens. Tuskegee red and Marine red. Black and gold, navy and white, purple.

When he started a roll call for veterans to stand up for each war they served in, just a few stood at the beginning. Then Vietnam was called. Then the same veterans started standing again.

Veterans Day is about more than those from different military branches coming together. Mayor Joe McElveen, himself a son, son-in-law, nephew and grandson of a veteran and a veteran himself, said the day is about celebrating every veteran who served, no matter the capacity or marked impact.

Sumter has produced such notable veterans as Medal of Honor recipient George Mabry Jr., who as a lieutenant colonel in World War II led an attack through Hurtgen Forest in Germany before retiring from the Army in 1975 as a major general. The "strength of our nation" lies in both people like Mabry and in every single veteran's contribution.

The spectrum of Sumter's veterans was represented on the courthouse steps at the end of the ceremony. Each year, the Sumter County Veterans Association randomly selects about 30 veterans to be specifically honored. Each received an American flag and a proclamation.

Special this year, veteran Ruth Hoyt gifted each of the honorees a patriotic blanket. The 97-year-old was a flight nurse in World War II, and, with only the help of a walker and a helping hand nearby, she said she is "still going strong."

Veteran Laperle, who took his kids to the parade, said he enjoyed seeing all the ROTC cadets participate. Veterans like when younger generations are interested in the military.

He was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base from 2011 to 2015 before stints in South Korea and Hurlburt Field near Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He now works for Caterpillar in West Columbia but comes to Sumter's Veterans Day program because of the community feel.

His daughter, Ava, 4, said she liked the music. His son, Joey, 10, couldn't decide what he liked most because it was all good, he said. The Sumter Utilities vehicles were cool, though.

Sumter's biggest parade yet represented a community that has grown in the decades since these veterans took up arms. It's a community big enough to line the streets but small enough still for a wife to grab a kiss through the driver's window of a cop car rolling down the parade route. Small enough for an airman to break rank and shuffle to the curb for a quick high five from his son.

The patriotism may be uncommon, but its presence is familiar.

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Ensuring our freedom: Sumter holds annual Veterans Day celebration with parade, ceremony, meet and greet - Sumter Item

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, known to tell a tall tale or two, is climbing to the top of the totem pole for the Democratic Partys presidential nomination.Warren, who has a tortured history of embellishing her autobiography, is gaining a tribal following as she veers left. Shes gone off the reservation to attract a whole bunch of Warren warriors who will support her to be the next commander in chief.

However, when people take a deep dive into Warrens policy views, they might want to think twice about supporting her run for the nomination. Here are five reasons why Warren should stay as far from the White House as possible:

Warren is a fraud, in the truest sense of the word. Not only is she vastly more disingenuous than the average politician, her stupid schemes would undermine tried and true American principles and policies. If elected to the highest office in the land, Warren would single-handedly threaten the long-term viability of individual freedom, self-reliance, and federalism.

President Reagan once said, Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didnt pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. If Warren somehow wins the presidency in 2020, you can bid a fond farewell to good-old American freedom.

[Originally Published at The Daily Caller]

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Five Reasons Why Warren's Policies Will Destroy Freedom as We Know It - The Heartland Institute

The Freedom Patriots are extremely familiar foes for Parkland High Schools football team at this point.

But theyre extra familiar for Angel Santos.

The Trojans senior played with the current Patriots until moving out of the Bethlehem Area School District in the eighth grade and his two brothers, Andres and Joseph, competed for Freedom a handful of years ago.

It's a big game for me because I know all the kids there, said Santos, a middle linebacker/running back. I went to school with them. I was supposed to play with them, but I moved over here and now I'm playing for Parkland.

Friday night will mark the fourth straight year the Trojans (9-2) will meet Freedom (10-1) in the postseason. The second-seeded Patriots host third-seeded Parkland in the District 11 Class 6A semifinals at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

Parkland has the wind at its back, with seven consecutive wins after a 2-2 start. One of those early setbacks was a 21-18 defeat to Freedom.

I think they've been hungry the whole year, coming from 2-2 with their backs against the wall, Parkland coach Tim Moncman said of his players. This is our fourth time (playing Freedom) in two years and they've won the last three. We just hope to play our best and see what happens.

Parklands early season injuries have been well-reported. The Trojans will enter Fridays semifinal with more tools at their disposal compared to their first meeting with Freedom, particularly as Moncman noted, senior offensive tackle Nick Dawkins, a Penn State recruit.

Parkland has also been clamping down on opposing offenses. The Trojans are allowing an average of 10.3 points per game over their last seven victories.

Defensively, we have a couple bodies back, but we're just clicking, Moncman said. We're playing pretty well running to the ball, swarming to the ball.

Our defense has been key, Santos said. Our defense has been great, and it's been stopping everyone. And our offense is getting better and better every week.

While the team has dealt with ailments at different areas, Santos has been a steady presence in the middle of the D all season.

He's the captain of the defense, Moncman said. He makes all the calls and gets there with a purpose.

Santos, who is listed at 5-foot-10, 210 pounds, can certainly make the pads pop when he reaches the ball-carrier.

He is as blue-collar as it gets, Moncman said.

The middle linebacker and his teammates have a tall task in slowing down the Patriots, who are the defending District 11 Class 6A champions.

(Quarterback Jared) Jenkins makes all the right decisions, Moncman said. I think (Jalen) Stewart and (Matty) Russin are as good a 1-2 punch as you could see. They'd be primary backs for anybody. So, they're explosive on offense and come after you on defense.

Santos leads the Trojans with 88 tackles, including eight TFLs and three sacks.

Hes also an effective change-of-pace back behind junior Isiah Rico (200 carries, 1,289 yards, 16 touchdowns).

We'll use him at running back and he's a beast to bring down, Moncman said.

Santos has taken 39 carries for 302 yards and six touchdowns.

I try to get as much as I can, Santos said of playing running back. I try not to let anyone take me down 1-on-1.

A steady running game will be important for Parkland as sophomore quarterback Ty Tremba (58-for-107, 964 yards, 8 TDs, 5 INTs), who took over near the midway point of the regular season, enters the biggest start of his young career.

I think the switch at quarterback has sparked us quite a bit, Moncman said.

Santos knows the rushing attack is important. He also knows that his strength is a major element of his game, and he credits his work with the Parkland power-lifting team for some of the advancements in that area.

It was a great experience lifting with them, the senior said. Everyone was getting stronger and stronger.

Santos found a little motivation from within his family when he worked in the weight room.

When I was younger and my brothers were playing for Freedom, I used to work out with them all the time, he said. ... When I got here and I saw (the power-lifting team), my goal became to lift more than my brother (Andres).

Has he reached that goal?

Just by a little bit, Santos said with a laugh.

Right now, the senior is more focused on beating his brothers old team.

RELATED: High school football predictions for Week 12

Kyle Craig may be reached at kcraig@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KyleCraigSports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

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Familiarity goes beyond the field for Parkland footballs Santos vs. Freedom - lehighvalleylive.com

The Freedom Wall in Jeffersontown, Ky., includes 15, 4- by 8-foot lites of glass.

This Veterans Day marks the first anniversary of the Freedom Memorial Walls opening in Jeffersontown, Ky., honoring the sacrifice and service of U.S. veterans. The project features 15, 4- by 8-foot glass lites depicting images and stories from each branch of the military. Radiance Glass Studio in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was chosen to help tell the stories of veterans and their families due to its experience with de-coating technology.

CEO Scott Erickson says the project required a material that wouldnt fade and could withstand large temperature fluctuations. Radiances de-coating technology removes paint from backpainted glass in a controlled manner and etches behind it. Erickson says this process allows his team to create high-definition engraving compared to sandblasting, which creates a positive or negative. Each panel includes a quarter-inch lite of backpainted glass laminated with a quarter-inch lite of low-iron glass.

One of the most challenging parts of the installation was timing. As the fabrication was complete close to the deadline, the Radiance team hand-delivered the glass and Pace Contracting worked around the clock for two days with a team of around 30 to finish the installation on time for the Veterans Day 2018 opening.

Radiance Glass Studio uses a technology called de-coating to create images in glass.

Erickson says the reception to the project has been fantastic. His team has been asked to work on a similar project in Oklahoma in partnership with the local government and local American Legion branch.

Weve started a new relationship with the American legion and we hope to give them some of the proceeds for the projects we do like this moving forward, he says. They have a lot of great outreach programs. Thats an organization we look forward to working with to help them help others moving forward.

Thanks to his teams involvement in this project, Veterans Day has become an important day at Radiance.

Its a special day and it really helps me and my team to reflect on what the members of our military and their families do, he says. Its become an important and special holiday for us and this helped us realize that even more.

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Glass Freedom Wall Honors Veterans and Their Families - USGlass Metal & Glazing