There will be multiple opportunities for the public to honor parish veterans next week along with events planned specifically for veterans as the parish prepares to celebrate Veterans Day 2023.
The Town of Urania will start the celebrations off by providing all veterans and their spouse with a free fish plate from Ivy’s General Store November 9, 10 and 11.
Urania Mayor Jay Ivy said veterans may sign up for the free fish plate at the Urania Town Hall and then pick up their plates on one of the three days.
For more information, contact the Urania Town Hall at (318) 495-3452 The Town of Tullos will be delivering gift cards to all veterans in their town as they honor their veterans.
For more information, contact the Tullos Town Hall at (318) 534-6499.
The Town of Olla will host their annual Veterans Day program on Friday, November 10, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Centennial Cultural Center in Olla.
The program always features many patriotic events and focuses on one veteran from the Olla, Urania or Tullos area.
For more information, contact the Olla Town Hall at (318) 495-5151.
On Veterans Day itself, November 11, more activities have been planned than what usually occurs at the parish observance in the parish seat of Jena.
The day will begin with a special 5K and Liftathon event hosted by Victory Fitness in Jena in memory of Joe Peppers, former Jena resident, National Guard soldier and Gulf War veteran.
Peppers was an active member of the fitness gym and is described as a “loving friend and brother.” All proceeds from the Liftathon and 5K will be given to the LaSalle Parish Veterans Honor Guard.
The Liftathon will begin at 8 a.m. November 11 at Victory Fitness located at 1739 S. Fourth Street in Jena. Around 9:30 a.m., the 5K will begin, starting at Victory Fitness and ending at the Jena Town Park’s amphitheater just prior to the Veterans Day program beginning.
Organizers are requesting that those wishing to participate to please pre-register by calling Victory at (318) 992-0619 or stop by the gym Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. Registration may also occur the day of the event, however, participants are encouraged to pre-register.
Medals will be given out prior to the start of the Veterans Day program set to begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Jena Town Park Amphitheater.
For more information, please call (318) 9920619.
All LaSalle Parish veterans are encouraged to participate in the annual Veterans Day Parade which will travel through downtown Jena beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Veterans are asked to be at the rear of the La-Salle Parish Courthouse in time to take a seat on one of the floats that will be provided for them.
Parish residents are encouraged to line the streets of downtown Jena to honor veterans. American flags are encouraged to be waved as the nation’s true heroes are honored.
The parade will end at the park in time to allow everyone along the parade route to arrive at the park also for the start of the official Veterans Day program.
The program will feature veterans in all aspects of the event, culminating with the Keynote Address from Staff Sergeant Jeffery Robinson, Appellate Judge – Second Circuit Court of Appeal in Shreveport.
For more information about the program, contact Rodney Russell at (318) 481-6464.
Finally, parish Veterans Day events will conclude the following weekend as on Saturday, November 18, the annual Veteran Appreciation and Tribute at New Evergreen Baptist Church in Jena will be held.
The lunch and fellowship will begin at 12 p.m. with a delicious home cooked meal for veterans and their families and friends.
It is sponsored annually by the Dorsey family and will honor veteran Charles E. Dorsey.
New Evergreen Baptist Church is located at 1190 Church Street in Jena. For more information, call (318) 992-2594 or (318) 312-0330.
