Meeks Condemns Exit from Afghanistan; Brooks Honors Mike Joyner One Last Time

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

Levy County Commission Chairman John Meeks said Tuesday the United States government hurt its veterans and embarrassed itself by abandoning Afghanistan and turning it over to the enemy.

Speaking to the county commission and audience members, Meeks said he regrets not having served in the military when he had the chance, but he said if residents of Levy County know a veteran, particularly those veterans that served in Afghanistan or the Middle East, “reach out to them.”

“This little disaster we’re experiencing right now is hard on those folks. It’s hard on the people who lost someone over there, and it’s especially hard on the men and women. They went over there and fought and thought they were doing the right thing and a noble thing and now this,” Meeks said. “I can say we embarrassed ourselves, this country. We tucked our tail and ran out of Afghanistan and left those people hanging – just turned our stuff over to our enemies.”

Chairman John Meeks, who was close to Joyner, choked back tears when the board voted to replace Joyner on the Value Adjustment Board. Commissioners Rock Meeks, Lilly Rooks, John Meeks and Matt Brooks are shown. — Chairman John Meeks, who was close to Joyner, choked back tears when the board voted to replace Joyner on the Value Adjustment Board. Commissioners Rock Meeks, Lilly Rooks, John Meeks, and Matt Brooks are shown.

Meeks, speaking at the end of the meeting in commissioner comments, added that he wasn’t alive when American troops left Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, but he said the fall of Saigon has been compared by people who were there as being similar to what is happening in Afghanistan.

“It is a sad day in this country. I’m not making it political, but I do ask that if you know anyone who has served, there are a lot who are hurting, a lot of families that are hurting today. They feel like it’s a wasted effort,” Meeks said.

While Meeks made no mention of who ordered the removal of American troops from Afghanistan, the order came from President Joe Biden fulfilling a campaign pledge to remove all American troops by Sept. 11, the 20^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.

Remembering Mike Joyner

County Commissioner Matt Brooks is seated next to a poster of his friend, the late County Commissioner Mike Joyner, as he holds a decal suggested by Joyner just weeks before his passing. The decal said, "Stand for the flag, kneel for Christ." — County Commissioner Matt Brooks is seated next to a poster of his friend, the late County Commissioner Mike Joyner, as he holds a decal suggested by Joyner just weeks before his passing. The decal said, “Stand for the flag, kneel for Christ.”

In other board comments, Commissioner Matt Brooks sat next to a poster-sized photo of the late Commissioner Mike Joyner who passed away unexpectedly. A vase of flowers was placed in front of Joyner’s photograph.

“Pretty heavy-hearted to sit here and him not be here,” Brooks said. “I know everybody feels exactly the same thing. Mr. Mike would probably say, ‘Buck up buddy. It ain’t over, it’s just started.’ He’d probably said it different than that and would have a few things to add to it – sure going to miss him.”

Brooks showed off a car decal that Joyner showed him a few weeks before his passing that embodied his Christian convictions and patriotism.

“He brought this to me a few weeks ago, an idea for a decal. It said, ‘Stand for the Flag, kneel for the Cross’,” Brooks said. Brooks said he added Joyner’s brand in the upper right corner of the decal, not at Joyner’s request, but as a reminder of who suggested the words on the decal.

“I thought it would be a good reminder of our brother Mike Joyner. He wanted everyone to know where he stood and if there was a chance to bring someone to Christ, he tried. I want to make sure all the commission had one of these. You can display it proudly on your vehicle or wherever you choose to display it. He’s definitely already going to be sorely missed. A lot of firsts. Roll call (today) was strange. Strange to look at his picture and him not sitting here.”

Brooks asked for a 30 second period of silence in honor of Joyner before making his remarks.