Labor_Day_parade_Buffalo_NY

 

Monday September 6th is Labor Day

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.  In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.  Cleveland was also concerned that aligning an American labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.  All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.  Pictured at right is a photo of a Labor Day parade on Main St. in Buffalo NY in 1900.

 


Chaplain

Dr. John South Offers Professional Services

Former PLEA Chaplain Dr. John South has formed a company, Critical Point Solutions LLC which offers a variety of counseling/teaching services that can be helpful for individuals, small groups or even corporations.

Chaplain South was born on October 1, 1945 and is a native of Paragould, Arkansas.He enlisted in the Army in January 1963 at the age of seventeen and remained on active dutyuntil August 1967, when he received an honorable discharge as an infantry specialist.  Chaplain South holds a bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree from California State University, Sacramento, California. A Master of Divinity Degree from Western Seminary with a minor in Psychology and Crisis Management, Portland, Oregon, and a Doctorate of Ministry Degree in Suicide and Crisis Intervention including studies in PTSD from Phoenix Seminary, Phoenix, Arizona.

He assisted ATF peer support teams in Colorado in 1999 after the Columbine shootings, worked with the many ATF employees affected by the 9/11 tragedy in New York City, and participated in PTSD briefings for ATF special agents and explosives specialists deployed to Iraq to assist the military and the Iraqi police force and government.

Chaplain South’s military education includes the U.S. Army Chaplain Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College and the Army War College which includes a Master’s in Strategic Studies with his thesis in Suicide Intervention.

His major enlisted assignments were the 3d Armor Division Freiberg, Germany, and the 1st Infantry Division Republic of Vietnam. Chaplain South entered the Army Reserve Chaplaincy in June 1982. His Chaplain assignments include: 313th MASH, Ft. Vancouver, WA; 164th CSG, Phoenix, AZ.; 259th MI. BN, Phoenix, AZ.; and Command Chaplain, 63rd RRC, Los Alamitos, CA. Chaplain South has served as a police chaplain for the past 24 years in Portland, OR,  and Phoenix, AZ.

His awards and decorations include: Purple Heart, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Achievement with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Army Superior Unit Award; Army Reserve Component Achievement Award 3, National Defense Service Medal 2; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon 2; Army Reserve Component  Overseas Training Ribbon 2; Combat Infantry Badge, The Global War on Terrorism Medal.

For years Dr. South was a valued partner to the PLEA organization when he served as PLEA's Chaplain.  Dr. South retired and formed Critical Point Solutions as a means to continue offering much needed services to the community.

CLICK HERE to obtain a copy of Dr. South's informational flyer which outlines the types of services offered.cc