LaSalle Parish law enforcement officers joined more than 100,000 other officers across the nation who recently participated in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, or LETR.
Organized locally by LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Deputy and DARE Officer Jenny Parker and LaSalle Parish Special Education Supervisor Jenene Bignar, the event was held Tuesday, May 13, and featured officers and LaSalle Parish Special Olympians parading through all nine of the parish schools.
LETR is the largest public awareness vehicle and grass-roots fundraiser for Special Olympics. Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the Flame of Hope symbolizing courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe.
In LaSalle Parish, the Special Olympics were held in March with the Flame of Hope carried in to begin the parade of athletes. The Louisiana State Summer Games are set for May 23-25 in Hammond and LETR will culminate in the United States at the USA National Special Olympics set for this summer.
The LETR for Special Olympics engages law enforcement worldwide championing acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, starting first with their own communities. Since its inception, LETR has raised over 900 million dollars and changed millions of attitudes.
As LETR Founder and retired Chief Richard LaMunyon once said, “What started in 1981…as a flicker of hope for Special Olympics has now become a roaring flame of stability for Special Olympic athletes worldwide.”
In June 1981, six police officers from Wichita, Kansas carried a torch into a high school and started a movement that continues to grow each year, providing for the athletes of Special Olympics.
Last Tuesday, hype music featuring “The Eye of the Tiger” was played over schools’ intercom systems as the parade of officers and athletes marched through the hallways of the schools in celebration of their feats.
LaSalle Parish Sheriff Lane Windham was one of the individuals selected to carry the torch through the schools and was grateful to once again participate in such a worthy event.
“This was for every one of our Special Olympic athletes in La-Salle Parish,” he said. “What an honor to recognize them and bring attention to them. They are our parish’s honored students and deserving of the recognition.”
This was the first year that all nine schools were able to be included in the Torch Run and the parade of athletes, something that Parker and Bignar were extremely pleased to achieve.
“At each school, we were able to have their schools’ Special Olympic athletes lead the parade through their schools for all the other students and teachers to celebrate them,” Parker said. “It is truly a special day as they were honored by their classmates.”
The group of officers also participated in a run, that had them carry the Flame of Hope from Jena High School to Jena Junior High School, complete with a police escort by LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jena Police Department, and other law enforcement vehicles.
The day began at 8:15 a.m. at Good Pine Middle, then the group traveled to Fellowship, Nebo, Jena High, Jena Jr. High and Jena Elementary, before traveling north to parade through Olla-Standard Elementary, LaSalle Jr. High and ending at La-Salle High by 12 p.m.
Officers with the LPSO and JPD were also joined by members of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, GEO, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and Special Olympic Athletes from The Arc in Rapides Parish.
“We also want to thank the following for supporting LETR: Homeland Bank, Woodmen Life, Steve Andrews and Reed Walters,” Parker said. “And a special thank you to LaSalle Parish Special Education Supervisor Jenene Bignar for coordinating between our sheriff’s office and the schools to make this day special for our Special Olympic athletes.”
More information about LETR can be found at www.letr.org or by contacting Deputy Parker at (318) 9927364.
To donate to the LaSalle Parish Special Olympics held each spring, contact Special Education Supervisor Jenene Bignar at (318) 992-5971. Sponsorships are always needed and appreciated.
