Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs staff at the state’s five veteran cemeteries will host ceremonies to remember veterans on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023.
There are more than 8,800 veterans buried in Louisiana’s five state veterans’ cemeteries, and it is our duty to provide them with a final resting place of honor, authorities say.
“On Memorial Day, we honor those who paid the ultimate price and gave their lives in the line of duty,” said LDVA Secretary Joey Strickland, COL (ret. USA). “We also honor the men and women who have passed away after completing their service. And we can’t forget the families of our veterans, as they, too, made sacrifices to support their loved ones.”
Memorial Day ceremonies at cemeteries will include words of remembrance, prayers, and playing Taps. Representatives from veteran service organizations will also lay wreaths during the ceremonies.
Here is the list:
Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
3348 University Pkwy, Leesville, LA 71446
Monday May 29 at 11 a.m.
Speaker: BG David Gardner, Commanding General, JRTC and Fort Polk
Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
2413 Highway 425 Rayville, LA 71269
Monday May 29 at 11 a.m.
Speaker: MSG Rudy Bourg
Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
7970 Mike Clark Road Keithville, LA 71047
Monday May 29 at 11 a.m.
Speaker: SGT Maurice L. Simmons
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
34888 Grantham College Dr Slidell, LA 70460
Monday May 29 at 11 a.m.
Suggested arrival time 9:30 am
Speakers: Four Veteran Families Buried at SELVC
Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
1620 Evangeline Highway Jennings, LA 70546
Monday May 29 at 10 a.m.
Speakers: Lenor Cox, wife of Ted Cox Sr.; Jaquetta Fontenot, wife of Roy Fontenot; and EN3 Harry Ardoin, the three who have their spouses buried in the cemetery
Last year, the department announced a partnership with the federal VA to commemorate veterans through the Veterans Legacy Memorial. VLM is the nation’s first digital platform dedicated to the memory of millions of veterans buried in VA national cemeteries, as well as VA grant-funded cemeteries, such as Louisiana’s five state veterans cemeteries.
Every veteran buried in one of the state-run veteran’s cemeteries has an individual profile page that is auto-populated with military service and cemetery information. Interactive features allow family and friends to post tributes, upload images, share their veteran’s accomplishments and more. The site also allows visitors to share a veteran’s profile page via email or post to Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, users can follow a Veteran to receive email alerts when new content is added to that Veteran’s Page.
For more information about these Memorial Day, or LDVA, ceremonies, visit vetaffairs.la.gov, email [email protected], call 225.219.5000, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube.
To learn more about VLM or to find a veterans page, visit va.gov/remember.
