The "Wreaths Across America" program took place yesterday, 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. 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, Sisters of Royalty 7, Mayfield Elementary Elite Squad, St. Tammany and Slidell Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol (U.S. Air Force Auxiliary), and JROTC cadets from Northshore, Salmen, and Pearl River High Schools.
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.
The local Boy Scout Troop was on hand
The local Knights of Columbus group provided an acapella chorus of patriotic music.
Helping distribute the wreaths were young volunteers from the American Heritage Girls (above) and the Mayfield Elementary Elite Squad (below)
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.
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