Wreaths Across St. Tammany

 The "Wreaths Across America" program took place December 13, 2025, with ceremonies at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Slidell as well as several other St. Tammany area cemeteries. 

Wreaths were placed at each gravestone in Slidell's
Veterans Cemetery

Hundreds of people turned out for the event in Slidell, with dozens of volunteers, many of those from youth groups, helping to distribute the 3,516 memorial wreaths throughout the gravesites. Danielle Palen, Director of Communications for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, emceed the program. 

She explained that the Wreaths Across America program was not meant to just decorate the graves of deceased American veterans, it was to remember their sacrifices. She urged participants to "say their name" when visiting the individual gravesites. 

Family members converged upon the cemetery in Slidell from all across the Gulf South to take part in the ceremonies. The Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery is one of the largest such cemeteries in Louisiana and is the fastest growing. It opened in June of 2014.

Here are some photographs. Click on the pictures to make them larger.

A special wreath was placed for each branch of the military service

Hundreds of people turned out for the Slidell event, including Parish President Mike Cooper, District Councilman Jimmy Strickland, and Lane Carson, president of the St. Tammany Veterans Foundation. Also attending was Secretary Col. Charlton J. Meginley, USAF (Ret.)  of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs was the honored guest for the occasion.  

From left, Strickland, Cooper, Carson, Meginley, and Palen. 

At far right is Kori Luther, Administrative Coordinator for the cemetery. 

           Also on hand were Veteran Assistance Counselors Krystal Tagaloa and Patrick Duhe who were there to answer questions. The US Veterans Affairs also brought the Mobile Medical Unit out with information about their healthcare programs.

Also attending were Shawn Hanscom, Communications Director for Senator Bill Cassidy’s office, and Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal. 

The ceremony opened with a motorcycle escort of wreaths being brought into the cemetery. It was performed by the Patriot Guard Riders, local Slidell chapter. 

The honor guard of the local Civil Air Patrol presented the colors.

The Opening Ceremonies followed the unpacking of hundreds of wreaths.

Dozens of volunteers helped unpack and distribute the wreaths throughout the cemetery in Slidell. 

A number of youth groups were also represented, among them American Heritage Girls Troop 2013, Boy Scouts Troop 119, Cub Scouts Pack 21, Boy Scouts Troop 351, Girl Scouts Troop 30033,  and the Mayfield Elementary Elite Squad.  Among the civic organizations taking part in the event were Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Sisters of Royalty, the Salmen High School JROTC, the Northshore High School JROTC, the Slidell High JROTC, Cub Scouts-Pack 21, Girls Scout Ministry, Girl Scouts 30033, the Knights of Columbus, the Civil Air Patrol (St. Tammany and Slidell Composite Squadron) the United States Air Force Auxiliary, the Patriot Guard Riders, the Northshore Honor Guard, and Combat Vets 64.

The local Boy Scout Troop was on hand

The local Knights of Columbus group provided an acapella chorus of patriotic music. They are shown above with Parish President Mike Cooper at the left and Col. Charlton J. Meginley, USAF (Ret.), Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, at the right. 

Helping distribute the wreaths were young volunteers from the American Heritage Girls (above) and the Mayfield Elementary Elite Squad (below)

To View Video of the Slidell Ceremony, click on the "Play Triangle" above.

---------------------------

Over in Covington, the Wharton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution distributed wreaths in Covington Cemetery No. 1. 

Down in Mandeville a number of wreaths were placed all around the cemetery to mark and recognize the graves of military veterans. 

Links of Interest:

Memorial Day Program 2025

Memorial Day Program Held - 2023

Covington Remembers

Patriots Day Is Thursday, Sept. 11

Roxy Remembered

Trees At The Old Courthouse

 The ancient oaks and other trees at the front of the old courthouse on Boston Street in Covington have stood the test of time, overseeing many swearing in ceremonies, Veterans Day ceremonies and even some art market sales booths. 

Here is a photo essay showing some of their shining moments. Click on the images to make them larger. 

Moss-laden limbs

The World War I Memorial

Weight Lifting In Covington

 In 1963, weight lifting classes were held at the Covington Community Center. 

Click on above image to make it larger. 

Then, in 2011 Covington High opened its new weight lifting room for its sports program. Here is the group on hand for its grand opening.

When Scuba Diving Was A New Sport

 In the late 1950's and early 1960's, scuba diving became a new and exciting sport. A large number of Covington area residents jumped into it, taking classes, joining the local scuba diving club, and going on spearfishing trips to the Gulf Coast. The City of Covington even had scuba diving lessons taught at the city pool.

Click on the above image to make it larger.

Here are some articles from the St. Tammany Farmer newspaper showing the growth of the sport. Some of the names of the participants you may recognize. 

Click on the articles to make them larger and more readable. 

The local skin diving group was called 

the Ozone SCUBA Lancers Divers Club. 

Tim Wilson was active in a number of activities in the Covington and New Orleans areas. 

The television show "Sea Hunt" helped launch the new sport. 

Pete Fitzmorris moved back to Covington and in the 1970's became a St. Tammany Parish Police Juror as well as president of the St. Tammany Fair Association. 

There was even an annual banquet for the scuba group, with awards given out. 

For many years, Smith Hardware on Columbia St. refilled scuba tanks for the local club. That store closed in 1992, and when cleaning out the back storage room, one of the items it found was the old chalkboard message board used by the Ozone Lancers scuba diving club. They had used it to record the catches and activities of the popular group.