Friday, November 8, 2013

Veterans Day 2013 in Shreveport/Bossier

It's Veterans Day weekend:  read about the history of Veterans Day here.  And here.

Locally, there are many activities scheduled:

Saturday, November 9, is the annual Vets for Vets event at Riverpark Church on the Clyde Fant Parkway (old Hamels Park).  Steve and I attended this event last year and had a great time!  The motorcycle ride was quite impressive as all the bikes thundered out of the parking lot and down the Clyde Fant Parkway toward the Louisiana War Veterans Home and then to the VA.  Make plans to attend this family friendly event if you can.  It starts early, at 9:00 a.m., but you'll get to hear Robin Beach sing the National Anthem and that is certainly worth getting up early for!




Sunday, November 10, from 2:00 - 3:00, there will be a Louisiana Veterans Honor Parade at the State Fairgrounds.  There will be floats, local marching bands, ROTC drill teams, and various veterans organizations in a parade down the midway on this last day of the Louisiana State Fair.  The Parade Marshall will be Brigadier General Joanne Sheridan.  Parking and admission is free to veterans and their families.

Also on Sunday, November 10, immediately following the parade at the fairgrounds, there will be a ceremony at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club on Greenwood Road.  Veterans will be recognized and there will be some certificates of appreciation will be presented.  There will be music by the Shreveport Metropolitan Band, Airline High School Choir, and the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Monday, November 11, you can find events at various schools:

Caddo Magnet High School will have a ceremony at 10:20 in the school auditorium with speaker Claude Young, a Korean War veteran.

Captain Shreve High School will have a ceremony at 10:10 with guest speaker Maj. Johnathon Lloyd from the Louisiana National Guard.

Green Oaks will have a ceremony at 9:00 a.m. with speaker LaDaryl Franklin, professor of military science and Grambling University.

Parkway High School in Bossier will have a 9:00 ceremony which will include a live bald eagle and a re-presentation of the Air Force Cross to retired U.S. Air Force Col. George Finck.

Benton High School will have a 9:00 a.m. ceremony with speakers from BAFB and Global Strike Command.

Our own good friend Ron Chatelain will be guest speaker at the LSUS event around the flagpole at 11:00.  Maj. Ron Chatelain is the most decorated living Vietnam veteran in the state of Louisiana.  He served two tours in Vietnam, earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with a V and Oak Leaf Cluster, and five Purple Hearts.  He's also one heck of a nice guy.  He is pictured below (right) with Steve at last year's Vet for Vets event:


Various restaurants and business will be honoring vets with freebies so check this list from The Shreveport Times for those deals and other local school events.

Also, keep a watch out for the VFW who will be out selling poppies this weekend.  Help support their efforts and buy a bouquet!

Sources include
KTBS News
The Shreveport Times

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