Feliciana 4-H members practice for livestock shows. Page 2G
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1st Year, No. 14
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
10 cadets complete preparatory training for military special operations
BY STEPHANIE WARREN
As part of the seven-day challenge, cadets took part in boot camp and special operaWhile many were shooting tions training exercises, inoff fireworks with family and cluding personal instruction friends on New Year’s Eve to from five veterans and active ring in the new year, 10 young duty special operators. Camp Spehar’s course was men from around the country were celebrating the comple- led by U.S. Navy SEAL Special tion of their seven-day mis- Warfare Operator 1st Class sion at Camp Spehar’s Special Kody Seamon and Marine Warfare Challenge in St. Hel- Corps Cpl. Chad Felps. Seamon said the program ena Parish. A graduation ceremony was specializes in teaching course held Jan. 2 at Lion King Min- navigation, discipline, teamistries Retreat Center in Pine work, leadership skills, core values, nutrition, running deGrove. Camp Spehar’s Special War- velopment, water competency, fare Challenge is a seven-day mental toughness and special course designed to mentor operations history. “These young men signed up young men aspiring to enter Special Operations selection for this challenge not knowing what to expect, hoping and programs. swarren@theadvocate.com
praying to discover the potential inside of them and how to reach that potential to become the men that they know they can be,” Seamon said. During the exercises, the cadets had to bond together as they were forced to break through their mental barriers in order to successfully accomplish assigned tasks while being continually exposed to cold, wet and sandy conditions. Seamon said he is dedicated to preparing young men for the challenges of the military. Graduates of the challenge said the lessons they learned during their time at Camp Spehar have better prepared them for the rigors of special operations and furnished
them with the tools needed to overcome life’s obstacles. Camp Spehar is a nonprofit organization established in 2011 and named to honor Navy SEAL Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nicholas Patrick Spehar. Spehar was killed along with 29 other American servicemen and a U.S. military working dog named Bart when their helicopter was shot down on Aug. 6, 2011, in Afghanistan, Seamon said. Seamon said Camp Spehar is dedicated to remembering Spehar and the others killed that day by instilling the warrior mindset and positive core values to those men who as-
Advocate staff photo by STEPHANIE WARREN
In the military, challenge coins are presented by unit commanders in recognition of special achievement by a member of the unit. Instructor Roger May, left, presents a coin to cadet Timothy Fernstrom, naming him ‘Honor Man’ as he was the leader of the group, encouraging each cadet to press on during the seven-day training program at Lion King Ministries from Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. äSee CHALLENGE, page 2G
Getting to the root of the problem
Ailing shelter wants area to talk about spaying
Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL
The Rev. Matthew Harrington blesses the bread and wine for the Eucharistic offering at St. John the Theologian Orthodox Mission Church in St. Francisville on Jan. 7. Following the Julien calendar, rather than the modern Gregorian calendar, St. John’s celebrated Christmas on Jan. 7.
BY STACY GILL
sgill@theadvocate.com
St. John Mission has reasons to celebrate BY STACY GILL
sgill@theadvocate.com The Rev. Matthew Harrington, rector of St. John the Theologian Orthodox Mission Church in St. Francsiville, encouraged his congregation to “fight to continue to live a spiritual life” during a Jan. 7 service celebrating Christmas. Unlike the many churches
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that celebrated the birth of Christ on Dec. 25, St. John Mission Church in St. Francisville celebrated Christmas services Jan. 7. “We follow the old calendar, the Julien calendar,” said Harrington, a husband and father of three. “The celebration is our Christmas and Christmas Mass, but 13 days later.” The Divine Liturgy service was celebrated by a small congregation of about 12 adults and children who stood for most of the nearly two-hour service. There was lots of singing and prayers, many of them sung a capella, and signs of the cross were made frequently, several times in a row. When entering the candlelit sanctum, members of the congregation, including the children, honored saintly icons by kissing every image within reach. Icons of St. John the Theologian, the church’s namesake, Lady Theotokus (Virgin Mary),
Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL
Gail Dellafiora, cofounder of Feliciana Animal Welfare Society, plays with two puppies she fostered on the front lawn of her house in Zachary.
Gail Dellafiora, cofounder of Feliciana Animal Welfare Society, loves animals and has devoted the past six years of her life to them. But there’s a problem, she says. There are too many of them in East Feliciana Parish and not enough foster families. “Nobody is having the conversation about spaying and neutering, and frankly, I feel pet overpopulation is at the root of animal neglect, abuse,” Dellafiora said. In 2008, Dellafiora cofounded FAWS with Suzanne Hobgood. Since then, the two women and a core group of volunteers have operated the organization in East Feliciana Parish. But there is no facility or shelter — the program consists of a network of foster families and volunteers who take in animals when they can. FAWS recently lost two of its main foster homes. One family moved to Arkansas and the other family is coping with breast cancer, Dellafiora said. “With the loss of these main foster care providers, FAWS is no longer in a position to take in the number of puppy litters it has in the past, which averages about 100 puppies per year,” Dellafiora said. She said two things have happened: FAWS has been unable to reäSee SPAYING, page 5G
äSee ST. JOHN, page 3G
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