Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
It’s Parish Fair time in Livingston
The Livingston ParishFair kicks off Saturday with aparade, horse show and concert.
The fair,which started in 1937, includes carnival rides, arodeo, livestock exhibitions, 4-H horse show,pet show and communityexhibits.
Petty Betty performsat
8p.m. Saturday.The concert also includes akaraoke contest at 10 p.m. The doors open at 7p.m. and admission to theconcert is $10.
Events run from Saturday to Oct. 13 at the Livingston Fairgrounds, 13325 Florida Blvd.,in Livingston.
Tuesday is familynight with asixth grade spelling bee at 7p.m. For acomplete schedule, visit livingstonparishfair.com/fairschedule.
Librarycard holderswill be able to visit stateparks forfree
BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer
Apilot program designed to encourage people to explore Louisiana begins on Oct. 1, offering those with publiclibrary cards aday pass forany state park or historic site, along with afree backpack and other daytrip items, like binoculars and guides to birds and plants.
The program is apartnership of the State Library of Louisiana and Louisiana State Parks. People can present their library card at their local librarybranch to get the park passes.
In theinitialphase of the ”Check out Louisiana State Parks” program, the number of day passes will be limited, the agencies said in anews release.
In additiontoEastBaton Rouge, other participating parish library systems are in Livingston,Iberville, Evangeline, Jackson, Jefferson, Calcasieu, Claiborne,Morehouse,Richland, St. Martin, St.Mary, St. Tammany,Union, Vermillion, Vernon,Washingtonand Webster parishes. People will also be able to check out apass and backpack at the state library in downtown Baton Rouge, the release said Email EllynCouvillion at ecouvillion@theadvocate.com.
How do you top makingthe gamewinning field goal for yourteam with less than two minutes to play? If you’re Denham Springs junior Jonathan Bravo, you simply take advantage of the opportunity that presents itselfthe very next game. Aweek after Bravo booted the game-winner in a16-13 win over Woodlawn, he was called on to be thedifference-maker when the Yellow Jackets hosted East Ascension for their District 5-5A opener Take advantage, he did East Ascension had tied thegame 17-17 on atouchdown with25secondsleftto play.Akickoff return to theJackets 30 left
Travelingwallservesassomberreminder of sacrificesmadeduringVietnam War
BY VIC COUVILLION Contributing writer
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is asad andsomber reminder of what might be described as themost misunderstoodwar in thelong history of armed conflicts in which the military forces of theUnited States have been engaged. Despite the questions that have been raised about that conflict, the men and women who were called upon to fight that war in afar-off South Asian nation answered the call to duty and served with honorand distinction,and the Vietnam Wall, as it is commonly called, is atribute to thesacrifices made by all who offered their best duringwhat was thenation’s longest-ever conflict.
Local residents had the opportunity to visitthe wallSept. 25-29 when the cityof Walker hosted its Fallen Warriors Tribute featuring the wall and the Cost of Freedom exhibit. The exhibit, erected in Sidney HutchinsonPark,drew large crowds of visitors throughout the week as different programs associated with the wall visit were held each day
Quilts of Valor
Of special interest was theQuilt of Valor Ceremony on Sept. 27. The highlight of the event was the awarding of special quiltsmade by volunteers from around thenation. The quilts are fashioned with squares bearing patriotic motifs and were made as a“thank you” gesture for veterans of thenation’swars.
Dozens of the quilts were presented to area veterans present, and in each case theveteran was briefly wrapped in the quilt,signifying the love the nationextends to its veterans.
The first quilt was presented to Tollie Fletcher,a100-year-old veteran of World WarIIwho, while serving in theU.S. Navy, participated in thelanding in Normandy,France, on D-Day.Fletcher,sittinginhis wheelchair,was all smiles as two Vietnam veterans wrapped the Quilt of Valor around his shoulders.
The morning’sceremony was marked by speeches and tributes to all the nation’s veterans, withemphasis on those who served in Vietnam and in thelater conflicts in theMiddle East
The first to address thelarge crowd
gathered at the park’snew pavilion was Aaron Ellis, aU.S. Navy veteran of the Gulf War. Ellis said today you have the opportunity to visit atribute to the men and women whomade the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their nation’sfreedoms and beliefs.
“There is afeeling of loss and grief when we view this wall,” he said. “At the sametime, it brings us together emotionally as we think about what these brave men and womendid forus. This is a powerful reminder that we should never forget our veterans.”
Blake Ballard offered arousing, emotional rendition of, “God Bless the USA.” Strickland sharememories
Retired Col. Joey Strickland, who served formany years as Louisiana’s director of veterans services said that during the long Vietnamese conflict approximately 58,000 men and womenlost their lives, while thousands morewere wounded while actively engaged in the conflict. Looking back over the years since the
only 18 seconds. Not much time, but still enough for quarterback Jerry Horne to connect with John Gaspard for a44-yard completion to the EA 26. Theonly remaining question was how far Bravo’sfield goal trywould be.Anoffsides penalty on the Spartans moved theball five yards closer,although it didn’tlook like it would have mattered.Bravo’s28yard trywas straight and cleared thecrossbar with 15 yards to spare.
Thesituation was surprisingly similar to what theJackets had faced theprevious
Denham Springs quarterback JerryHorne (9)rolls away from East Ascension defensive linemen Jahmere Smith (94) and John Brown (96) in the second quarter of the District 5-5A matchup on Friday in Denham Springs.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Jeff Daniel, aU.S.Armyveteran of the Vietnam War, does arubbing of names of fallen combatants whoare listed on the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall erected in Walker’sSidneyHutchinson Park the week of Sept. 24-29.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
HungarianHarvest DanceSaturday
Visit Springfield Saturday forthe Hungarian HarvestDance Celebrationatthe Springfieldfire Station.
Admission is $10, children6-12 are $5and children 5and under are admitted forfree.
For tickets and information,call MarciMcKnight at (225)278-3770 or MindyStarkey at (985) 974-8045 or visit the Hungarian SettlementMuseum. Fall Fest coming to AntiqueDistrict
The annual Denham Springs Fall Fest is from 9a.m. to 4p.m. Saturday in the DenhamSprings AntiqueDistrict.
Thefreeevent includes more 160 vendors, music, kids zone, pet contest and foods.
Denham Springshosts musicfestival
Ben Bell and the Stardust Boys willperform from noon to 1p.m. Saturday at Centerville Stage, 236 South Range.
Squeezethe DayCitrustreesale
The Livingston Master Gardeners aretaking orders foravariety of citrus trees. Thesaleends Oct. 12. The trees will be available for pickupinlater this month.
To order,call (225) 456-0853
Urgent need forblood donations
In the aftermath of HurricaneFrancine, The Blood Center is calling on alleligible donorstohelp replenish thecommunity’s blood supply. Cancellations andclosures have severely impacted reserves
Why donate?“Our community needsa three- to four-day supply of blood to handleemergencies likeHurricane Francine,”Billy Weales,president &CEO of The Blood Center,said.“All citizensare highly encouraged to donatenow.”
“As emergency room visits increase,it’sour responsibility to ensure hospitals are prepared,” Dr Tim Peterson, medical director for The Blood Center,said. “Blood donationssavelives.”
Visit bit.ly/3Xt0b9Mfor more information.
Mighty Moms raisingmoney to feed children
September is Childhood Hunger Awareness Month, and Mighty Momsisdoing its partto feed childreninneed.
Want to help make adifference? Sign up to sponsor achild for only $30 byvisitingwww.mightymomsgo.org/donate.
Eyeglass recyclingdrive
4-H members throughoutLivingstonParish are collecting eyeglasses to help theLivingston Lions Club’sproject to help provideglass to childrenin need. Contact a4-H member tolearn more aboutthe collection drive. The glass are sent to Texas for refurbishing and then to those in needinMexico.
Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@theadvocate com by 4p.m. Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
ADVOCATEA
Albany High names homecoming court
PROVIDED PHOTOBYHAILEY KELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
Albany High School’shomecoming court has been announced.
The school’shomecoming court will be presented during Friday’sgame against Jefferson RISE Charter School. Game time is 7p.m. at Jessie Fletcher Memorial Stadium in Albany
The queen will be crowned at halftime.
The court includes:
Freshmen: Isabella Keating, Madison Richard and Rayla Heck
Sophomores: Reese Boudreaux, Charley Mageeand Brentley DePhillips
Juniors: Mia Berlier,Morgan Davis and Emily Diamond
Seniors: Jenna Chauvin, Stormy Williams, Morgan Crain, Presley Manchak and Taylor Williams.
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EDITOR
Darlene T. Denstorff
ddenstorff@theadvocate.com
OFFICE:(225) 388-0215 CELL:(225) 603-1998
COMMUNITY NEWS REPORTER Leila Pitchford livingston@theadvocate.com (225) 388-0731
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The AlbanyHigh homecoming courtincludes, first rowfrom left, Reese Boudreaux, Madison Richard and RaylaHeck; middle row, Jenna Chauvin, Stormy Williams, Morgan Crain, PresleyManchak and Taylor Williams; and top row, Charley Magee, Mia Berlier,Morgan Davis, Emily Diamond, BrentleyDePhillipsand Isabella Keating SATURDAYOCTOBER5
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week against Woodlawn. In that one, the Panthers led 13-6 in the second half, but Denham Springsfought back.The Jacketstied the game and then turned to Bravo, whose 22-yard field goal with 1:32 left proved to bethe difference. Bravo credited hard work and preparation for his successagainst EastAscension.
“I had agood week of practice, probably thebest
I’ve had so far,” Bravo said. “Our guys on the field goal unit really did their thing. They did good.” There is no way to measure the amount of pressure field goal kickers are tasked with handling when afootball game is on the line, but Bravo certainly
showed poise. He started off making a34-yard field goal in the second quarter and later added the extra points after both Denham Springs touchdowns.
Jackets coach Brett Beardsaid he was proud of theway his team settled down after falling behind the Spartans by 10 points in the first quarter.For the second week in arow his team was resilient turning an early deficit into awin. Itwas also the second week his team got what it needed late from Bravo. “I’ve got alot of confidence,” Bravo said.
At this point, its clear the Yellow
have
as
dence in
Charles Salzercovers Livingston sports for the Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate. To reach Salzer,email livingston@ theadvocate.com.
Jackets
confi-
him,
well.
Denham Springs’ Da Jean Golmond looks topass against East Ascension.
Denham Springs quarterback JerryHorne rolls away from East Ascension defensive lineman Jahmere Smith.
Denham Springs wide receiver
Da’Sean Golmond makes the catch for the first down past East Ascension defensive back Demarcus Gant.
STAFF PHOTOSBYMICHAEL JOHNSON
Denham Springs running back Brenton Paul (5) cuts through the hole against East Ascension in thesecond quarterofthe District 5-5A matchup on FridayinDenham Springs.
Denham Springs cheerleaders snap aquick photo before the game.
war’send in the 1970s,Stricklandsaid,“It took 50 years for thenation to start thanking Vietnam veterans for their service. When we came home from thewar we were told to wear civilianclothes because protesters waiting at the airports spit on us and called us ‘baby killers.’”
Strickland said that rememberinghis experiences in the war is still hurtful.
“In my company,15men were killed and many more were wounded,”Strickland said. “You don’tforget these things.And while we were fighting this terrible war, Hollywood and other groups were telling everyone how awful our fight was.
“The time has come to set therecord straight. …When we camehome, there were no parades, no celebrations, no thanks,” Strickland said. “Wehad to rely on ourselves,and as veterans we found away to finally earnthe thanks that we deserved. He said troops went home after their service and rebuilt their lives.
“Wewent to work, we paid taxesand we didn’task for anything special,”hesaid. “Wejustcontinued to give back to our nation. Veterans of World WarIIhavebeen calledthe greatest generation,and Ihave to agree with that. At the same time,I think that the men and women whoserved in Vietnam were also agreat generation.”
The speaker continued, “You had fire in your system, you served proudly andyou honored yourselves and your nation, and for that you have earned thethanksofall the citizens of the UnitedStates.
“The soldier prays for peace more than anyone else because he andshe knowsthe horrorand the price of war,” Strickland said.
Rememberingsacrifices
He noted that 2.7 million men and women servedinuniform during theVietnam War. Of that number,58,256 died while in uniform. Another 333,700 were wounded, Strickland said, adding that 705soldiers andairmen ended up as prisoners of war and that 5,011 are still missinginaction The Medal of Honor was awarded to 245 combatants during the Vietnam War.
“These numbers tell the story of those who served with sacrifice and valor,and our nation should never forget what they did out of asense of duty,” hesaid
Following his speech, theMarineForces Reserve Band played the hymns of each branchofthe service, andveteranswere asked to stand when the anthem of theirrespective service was played. Severaldozen veterans were present for the ceremony.
The travelingwall includes aseriesof gray panels each bearing thenames of those killed in action. Each panel lists the dead in acertain time frame. Thewall is an
80% replica of the original Vietnam VeteransMemorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
Thetraveling wall is 360 feet long and is six feet high at its highest point. The trajectory of thewall is similar to abell curve that could be plotted on agraph by ahigh school math class. The dates at thefoot of each panel start in the late 1950s, and these panelsare short withfew names.
By thelate1960s and early 1970s, the panelsgrow much tallerashundreds of combatants were killed in action each day The height of the panels then begins to grow shorter as the war wounddown, and few deaths were registered in the final days as the terrible conflict ground to its tragic end.
In concluding remarks Ellis observed, “Thewall has cometobeasymbol of hope andredemption for those who served and for their loved ones at home who anxiously awaited their return. It is abridge from thepast to the present, and it reminds us of just how much we owe to those who did what thenation asked of them no matter the cost.”
PHOTOSBYVIC COUVILLION
Avisitor to the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall stops to read the names of some of the men and women whowere killed during the Vietnam War. The wall reflects the deaths on adaily basis of the war which officially came to an end on April30, 1975.
Ollie Fletcher,a 100-year-old U.S. Navy veteran whoparticipated in the D-DayLandings in WorldWar II is wrapped in aQuilt of Valorawarded himduring ceremonies Thursdayaspart of aweek-long visit of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall that was brought to Walker’s Sidney Hutchinson Park. Assisting Fletcher was Kenna Kornishathis left. Quilts were presented to anumber of veterans present for the Quilts of ValorCeremony.
Campers, counselorsand volunteers at Camp Catahoula 2024
