New Veterans Memorial Plaza honors Gold Star families

BY BROOKE R. CANTRELLE

Former St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre was brought to tears as he stood before the newly completed Veterans Memorial Plaza during a grand opening ceremony on April 5. He recalled the first veteran appreciation event held at the courthouse after he took office; only 10 people had shown up. This time, he looked out at a sea of people, many of them veterans or family members whose loved ones had paid the ultimate sacrifice. It was the culmination of a dream that had been years in the making, birthed from St. Pierre’s vision to create a space where veterans could be remembered and celebrated.

“I never thought I would live to see this thing complete,” St. Pierre said.

Stationed adjacent to the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center in Luling, the Veterans Memorial Plaza honors all five branches of the Armed Forces. The site houses a Purple Heart Memorial, a POW/MIA statue, and Louisiana’s second Gold Star Families Memorial Monument.

Major General Keith Waddell, adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, explained the origins of the Gold Star tradition. Service flags originally flown during

World War I included a blue star for every immediate family member who had served in the Armed Forces. When a loved one died, a blue star was replaced by a gold star, allowing members of the community to see the price that family had paid for our country’s freedom.

The Gold Star Family Memorial was created by World War II veteran Hershel “Woody” Williams, who passed away this past summer at the age of 98. Williams dedicated the last 10 years of his life to establishing the Gold Star monuments in as many communities as possible across the country.

The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in St. Charles Parish is made from black granite and bears the silhouette of a saluting soldier. The two-sided monument includes four panels that read Homeland, Family, Patriot and Sacrifice.

According to the parish administration, St. Charles Parish is home to more than 300 veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It’s also home to the Champagne family, declared “The Most Military Family in America” in Summer 2021.

Parish President Matt Jewell said the Veterans Memorial Plaza is a testament to the unwavering commitment veterans and their families have shown not only to their country, but also to the local community.

“The entrance of the Plaza is lined with bricks engraved with the names of veterans. These bricks remind us that our veterans’ sacrifices aren’t just a part of history, but are literally woven into the fabric of our community,” Jewell said. “It reminds us that our veterans are not just names on monuments, but real people who have lived and served in our community. They are our neighbors, our friends, and our family members.”

Jewell made a commitment to bring St. Pierre’s vision of the Veterans Memorial Plaza to fruition when he took office in early 2020. The process involved input from a newly created Veterans Action Committee consisting of members of the VFW, American Legion, and veterans who serve on the St. Charles Parish Council.

Councilwoman Marilyn Bellock served in the Coast Guard and has supported the vision for a Veterans Memorial Plaza since St. Pierre was in office.

“When (veterans) took off their uniforms, they became our educators, our first responders, our police officers and truck drivers and role models and elected officials and community leaders and entrepreneurs,” Bellock said.

Councilman Nicky Dufrene, who served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, spoke of the importance of honoring the families who gave their sons and daughters voluntarily to serve this country.

“When you are in the military, you know where you are sleeping at night, but your mom doesn’t,” Dufrene said. Dufrene recalled that during his time in the service, his comrade’s mother, Brenda Fobb, published any correspondence she heard from the troops in the St. Charles Herald-Guide, whether it was journal entries or weather updates. It was her way of giving the community an idea of what their sons were experiencing.

Now, the Veterans Memorial Plaza will share those stories with future generations.

“As parents, grandparents, and great grandparents, we can bring our loved ones and talk about what it means to serve this great country and the experiences we encountered during our time in the service,” said Bobby Laverne, the first St. Charles Parish resident to have served as state commander for the VFW. “If we, the veterans, don’t tell our young ones our stories, then they will not understand how this nation has maintained its freedom throughout history. It is not something that can truly be taught in a classroom or through a textbook.”

Education and awareness were also part of St. Pierre’s vision for the memorial.

“As young people come and visit this memorial and learn about the sacrifices, they will be inspired. They will be reminded of the importance of giving back to their country and community,” he said. “This memorial is also a reminder of the importance of serving our veterans when they return home and transition back into civilian life. It is up to us as a community to support them and to help them succeed.”

The Gold Star Families Memorial was generously donated by the Hue family. To them, it represents a legacy left by Lyndon Hue, a St. Charles Parish resident who was killed in a terrorist attack during a peacekeeping effort in 1983. Lyndon’s sister, Jill Stolz, spoke about the impact his death still carries, 40 years later.

Looking toward the memorial, she said, “The house that we grew up in, the restaurant that we grew up in, my grandparents’ house, they no longer exist. They are empty lots in Des Allemands. This is our legacy.”