Programs held in Jena and Olla
LaSalle Parish residents took time Tuesday, November 11, to honor all veterans during two programs held in Jena and Olla.
The day began with the Veterans Day Parade that rolled through the streets of Jena at 10 a.m., with many parish veterans riding in vehicles and floats. Joining the honored guests were several parish school organizations, motorcyclists and cowboys and cowgirls on horseback.
At 11 a.m., the annual Veterans Day program began at the Jena Town Park amphitheater with retired US Navy LCDR Ralph McCrory serving as the master of ceremonies under the direction of the Whatley- Flaherty VFW Post 5002 of Jena.
Several schools allowed many of their students and teachers to attend the program at the park, which was led by the VFW Poast and the LaSalle Parish Veterans Honor Guard. The guard presented the Colors, conducted a 21 Gun Salute and led Taps during the event. Troop 14 Scout Matthew Spears led the Pledge of Allegiance and Miss LSUA 2025 Madison Brown sang the National Anthem. Prayers were offered by retired US Army LTC Rodney Russell and US Army veteran Buddy Willis.
The keynote speaker for the Jena program was US Marine Corps veteran Charles Turnage. (See speech at the conclusion of this article.)
Also at the Jena program, Jena High School 11th grader Isabella Hodges shared with the crowd her grand prize-winning essay entitled, “What Does a Veteran Mean To Me?” (See essay in separate story.)
Later that same day, the annual Veterans Day program for Olla was held at the Centennial Cultural Center (CCC).
After a welcome by CCC President Ruben Couch, Troop 14 Scout Valcom Patten led in the Pledge of Allegiance. He would later also read a patriotic poem as part of the program.
Reagan Knight sang the National Anthem followed by Olla Mayor Rhonda Elliott sharing insights to Veterans Day and thanking all of those who have served the United States in the military. Her patriotic speech was thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated by all in attendance.
Honored at this year’s Veterans Day program were two LaSalle Parish natives, Thomas E. Nowlin and Jake A. Long.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Retired CW5(R) Thomas E. Nowlin Jr., son of Thomas E. Nowlin, Sr. and Patricia A. Nowlin, grew up in the LaSalle Parish area attending Olla-Standard Elementary, LaSalle Junior High and LaSalle High schools.
After attending Northeast Louisiana University, he enlisted in the United States Army in October of 1996 as a helicopter maintenance specialist on AH-64 Apache helicopters. He later attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and subsequently Rotary Wing Flight Training ultimately becoming an instructor pilot in the very same aircraft amassing just shy of 6000 flight hours with almost half being flown in combat operations supporting our nation’s missions around the world.
During his more than 20-year career, CW5(R) Nowlin was stationed in a multitude of locations including Fort Jackson, SC, Fort Eustis, VA, South Korea, Fort Bragg NC, Fort Rucker AL, Hunter AAF GA, and Fort Hood TX with multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His individual commendations include Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal(3rd Award), Air Medal with Valor, Air Medal (6th Award),Army Commendation Medal(5th Award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with 6 Campaign Stars, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon(4th Award), NATO Medal(2nd Award), Combat Action Badge, and Master Aviator Badge. His unit commendations include the Presidential Unit Citation (2nd Award) and the Valorous Unit Award.
CW5(R) Nowlin retired from active duty in April of 2019 and continues supporting the community as an air ambulance pilot in the Houston, TX area.
Jake Alan Long also grew up in LaSalle Parish and served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 2002-2008.
He was activated for duty in 2005 for Hurricane Katrina. During the devastating hurricane, he served in the New Orleans area during the storm and helped evacuate people during the flooding that took place in the aftermath.
In January 2009, Long was again placed on active duty for a tour in Iraq. While serving in Iraq, he sustained a knee injury which had him transferred to Fort Polk in Leesville, LA. The injury forced him to receive a medical retirement from the military, and he would leave active duty in 2011.
While serving with the National Guard, Long was a 21T (technical engineer), who mainly worked on construction projects such as surveying land and inspections.
During his time in the military, he served in Germany, Kuwait and Iraq. Today, Long is employed with Homeland Bank in their Jena branch as a loan officer.
The two veterans were honored in a special way during the Olla program with the renowned Quilts of Valor present to present each of them their very own, unique, Quilt of Valor. The quilts were presented by Hilda Franklin.
Jena’s Keynote Speech By Charles Turnage
“It’s an honor to stand here today – on this Veterans Day – as a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and as one of millions of Americans who have worn the uniform of our nation.
When I look around, I see something powerful: a community that remembers. I see veterans, families, students, and neighbors gathered not out of obligation, but out of gratitude. Gratitude for the men and women who have served, and for the freedoms we all share because of them.
Veterans Day is about more than history – it’s about people. It’s about the courage of those who raised their right hand and said, ‘Send me.’ It’s about the families who supported them, and the communities that welcomed them home.
President Ronald Reagan once said, ‘Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world. A veteran doesn’t have that problem.’
That’s what today is about – recognizing those who have made a difference, both in uniform and in the lives they continue to touch every day.
When I joined the Marine Corps, I was young, full of energy, maybe a little too confident, but ready to serve. I didn’t know exactly what the journey would bring, but I knew I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. The Marine Corps taught me lessons that still guide me today: discipline, teamwork, and resilience. It taught me how to lead, how to follow, and how to never quit when things get tough.
Gen. James Mattis said it best: ‘You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the hard work. Your reward will come later, and it will be the satisfaction of knowing you did your duty.’
That’s what service is – doing your duty, even when no one’s watching. And that’s a lesson that applies to every part of life, whether you’re in uniform, in school, or serving your community.
Every veteran here knows that the greatest part of service isn’t the medals or the titles – it’s the people. The friendships forged in moments of challenge and trust.
Lt. Gen. Lewis ‘Chesty’ Puller, one of the most legendary Marines, once said, ‘Old breed? New breed? There’s not a (*) bit of difference so long as it’s the Marine breed.’
That bond – that sense of brotherhood and sisterhood – connects generations of service members. It’s the same spirit that connects all of us here today as a community that stands together.
Freedom is not free. It’s earned and protected by those willing to stand up when others stand back. Some of our veterans came home with scars – some visible, others carried quietly inside. And some never came home at all.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur once said, ‘The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.’
Let us take a moment to remember those who gave everything for our country and let us honor them not just with silence, but with the way we live our lives.
Behind every veteran stands a family that served in their own way. Spouses, parents, and children who endured long separations, missed holidays, and sleepless nights. They are the quiet heroes who make service possible. Today, we honor them too – because when one person serves, the whole family serves.
When our time in uniform ends, another kind of service begins – the service of citizenship. For some, the transition back to civilian life is easy. For others, it’s a challenge. But what I’ve learned is that the values we carry from the military, integrity, teamwork, and purpose, are exactly what our communities need.
President George H. W. Bush once said, ‘A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel.’
Veterans continue to serve, as teachers, first responders, business owners, mentors, and community leaders. Service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. It simply takes a new form.
Veterans remind us that freedom requires responsibility. It requires courage, unity, and compassion. In the military, we didn’t ask where someone came from or what they believed. We asked, ‘Can I count on you?’ And the answer was always yes.
That’s the spirit that strengthens our nation and it’s something we can all carry forward in our daily lives.
To the young people here today, the students, Scouts, and future leaders – I want to speak directly to you. If you ever wonder what difference one person can make, look at the veterans around you. Each one of them once made a choice to serve, to sacrifice, to stand up for something bigger than themselves.
President John F. Kennedy said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’
That doesn’t always mean joining the military. It means giving back, helping others, and standing up for what’s right. That’s how we keep our communities and our country strong.
more than thanks. We owe them action, care, opportunity and respect. That means supporting veterans’ health care, education, and employment. It means listening to their stories and learning from their experiences. When we invest in veterans, we invest in the strength of America itself.
As I stand here today, at 51 years old, I think back to the young Marine I once was: full of energy, ready to take on the world. Time changes us, but the pride of service never fades. I’m proud of my time in the Corps, proud of the people I served with, and proud of the country we defended.
So today, let us honor all who served, past and present. Let us remember the fallen, support the living, and carry forward the values they fought to protect.
As Elmer Davis, a World War II journalist, once said, ‘This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.’
To my fellow veterans: thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, and your continued example. To those still serving: we stand with you. And to everyone here, young and old, thank you for remembering that our freedom endures because of those who defend it.
Semper Fidelis – always faithful.”
