LaSalle Parish honored all veterans during several events held this past weekend as the nation paused to pay tribute during Veterans Day.
While the towns of Urania and Tullos provided meals and gift cards respectively to their resident veterans, the Town of Olla’s annual Veterans Day program was held Sunday, November 10 at the Centennial Cultural Center.
This year’s featured veterans were John Richard Hudson Jr. and Charles McDougald, who along the sharing of his service history, was presented the Quilt of Valor from Hilda Franklin and Billie Brown.
Others participating in the Olla program included Olla Mayor Rhonda Elliott, Pinehill Baptist Church Pastor Cory Fowler, Reagan Franklin who sang the National Anthem and Boy Scout Valcom Patten who led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
On Veterans Day Monday, November 11, the annual Veterans Day Parade rolled through downtown Jena, ending at the Jena Town Park in time for the official Veterans Day program to begin at 11 a.m. Many of LaSalle’s veterans participated by riding floats in the parade as people waved American flags and thanked them for their service along the route.
At 11 a.m., the annual LaSalle Parish Veterans Day program was held at the Jena Town Park Pavillion. The event is sponsored each year by the Whatley-Flaherty VFW Post 5002.
Among those taking part in the program included Ralph McCrory, Rodney Russell, Ainslee and Cash Cooksey, Emily Allen and members of the LaSalle Parish Veterans Honor Guard.
Keynote speaker was LaSalle native Clint Gulde, who is a veteran of the United States Army, Louisiana National Guard, having served with the 1086th Transportation Company from Jena during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
Gulde spoke on the importance of Veterans Day with his remarks being of personal nature, remembering his time of service with the Jena unit and expressing how great LaSalle Parish is in honoring God and country.
“In today’s world, it’s too often and too easy taken for granted the freedoms and securities that we enjoy. We go about our daily lives often unaware of the sacrifices that have been made to protect those freedoms,” Gulde said. “But Veterans Day reminds us to pause, to remember and to express our gratitude. It reminds us that freedom is not free, it comes at a cost, and that cost is borne by the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. As we look to the future, let us pledge to continue to support our veterans, not just with words but with meaningful actions.”
The program also featured the presentation of colors, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, a 21-Gun Salute and the playing of Taps.
Members of the VFW Post 5002 thanked everyone who participated and attended all Veterans Day events this past weekend.
Photos from the events:
