Photograph: St.Landry Veterans Memorial Project Director Pat Mason Guillory speaks during the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony held Friday. (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Christmas wreaths were presented to Gold Star family members and St. Landry Parish municipalities as part of the annual Wreaths Across America program held during a series of presentations Friday at the Veterans Memorial.
Sponsored by Wal-Mart and distributed by Michael Bellchamber, who represented the company distribution center located near Opelousas, the program included musical presentations by the In Jesus Name quintet and prayers of remembrance from several St. Landry Parish ministers.
Pat Mason-Guillory, project director for the Veterans Memorial project, also recognized members of the Patriot Guard Riders and Acadiana Honor Guard, who performed a three-volley salute for St. Landry servicemen who were killed in combat beginning in 1918.
Afterward there was again silence among the crowd as Taps was played.
Bellchamber said the annual event for St. Landry has become a regular tribute by Wal-Marrt, which distributes the wreaths nationwide as a part of remembering servicemen and their families during the holiday season.
Parish Council members Mildred Thierry and Wayne Ardoin represented the Parish Council at the event.
Thierry and Ardoin were given wreaths to bring back to members of a veterans family that resides in their election districts.
Wreaths were also presented to families of U.S, servicemen Craig Davis, Jonathan Reed, Myles Sebastien, Jarred Fontenot and Joseph A. Richard III who died in combat overseas from 2004-2008.
