Sw Louisiana News

On Monday, October 9, Mayor Nic Hunter unveiled plans for the Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial to members of the Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission (MAFC). The Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be located on the Lake Charles lakefront, inside Veterans Memorial Park. The names of all the 885 Louisiana Vietnam War casualties will be etched into the walls of the memorial. 

This marked the first public discussion of plans for a permanent replacement for the area that formerly housed the UH-1 “Huey” helicopter that was retired after Hurricanes Laura and Delta rendered the Vietnam-era chopper unrepairable. 

At this time there is no other site officially designated as the “Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial” in the State of Louisiana. During the next legislative session, the City will seek official designation of this namesake from the State of Louisiana. 

“Our Veterans Memorial Park offers a quiet place for reflection for those who have served and continue to serve, and a place for civilians to offer thanks and remembrance,” said Mayor Nic Hunter. “Though recent natural disasters took their toll on Veterans Memorial Park, we are now looking at this as an opportunity to reimagine this space to be even more distinct. All our veterans deserve honor and thanks from the community, and this is especially true for Vietnam War veterans.”

“Our Vietnam War veterans have taken on a special focus for us in recent years,” explained James Dodd, MAFC President. “This period of American history evokes strong emotions in people to this day, and these veterans, who were simply answering their call to serve, did not receive the welcome home like other war veterans. We cannot change history, but we can offer the proper recognition today through events like our Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration held annually in March and through this permanent lakefront memorial.” 

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Joey Strickland was present for the announcement as well.

“As a two-tour Vietnam combat veteran, I am in total support of this effort, particularly given that Louisiana’s only Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Douglas Fournet comes from the Lake Charles area. Lake Charles has a well-documented history of supporting our military and veterans dating back to the World War II era.  I am deeply honored to be a part of these plans to honor all of Louisiana’s 85,000 Vietnam Veterans and their families for generations to come.”  

The construction of the memorial is currently dependent on passage of LC REBOUND, a tax neutral ballot proposition on the November 18, 2023 ballot.

Citizens can keep up with City of Lake Charles news at www.cityoflakecharles.com and www.facebook.com/LakeCharlesLouisiana.

Original source can be found here.