Sw Louisiana News

The City of Lake Charles Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission is set to host a “National Vietnam War Veterans Day” ceremony on Saturday, March 29, at 10 a.m. The event will take place at Veterans Memorial Park, situated on the north side of the Lake Charles Event Center grounds. At the end of the ceremony, attendees will witness the unveiling of the new Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The event aims to honor veterans from the United States Armed Forces who served during the Vietnam War. Notable speakers for the occasion include Charlton J. Meginley, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs; Joey Strickland, former Secretary of the same department; and family members of Lt. Douglas B. Fournet, a US Medal of Honor recipient.

Mayor Nic Hunter and other officials will join in unveiling the memorial within Veterans Memorial Park. This monument pays homage to 885 Louisiana soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam and stands as an official state memorial due to legislation sponsored by Senator Jeremy Stine.

According to the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, a Vietnam War Veteran is defined as any United States Armed Forces personnel with active-duty service between November 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975.

Refreshments will be available after the ceremony and public attendance is encouraged. In case of bad weather conditions, activities will move inside the Lake Charles Event Center.

Sponsors for this event include organizations such as Neurosurgery Consultants, L’Auberge Lake Charles, Stockwell Sievert, among others.

For further information about this event, interested parties can call (337) 491-1383.