The monument that honors those soldiers from Evangeline Parish that gave their lives during military combat will once again serve as the place of the Memorial Day ceremony held by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 632. (Gazette photo by Raymond Partsch III)
By: RAYMOND PARTSCH III
Managing Editor
Evangeline Parish’s fallen soldiers will be remembered on Monday.
The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 632 will be holding its annual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday at the war monument outside of the parish courthouse. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.
“We are hoping that the Junior ROTC from Ville Platte High will be there to post colors,” Chapter President J.D. Soileau said. “If not we will post the colors. We will have some readings, a ceremonial prayer, and put the flag at half staff.”
Soileau, who served in the U.S. Army and fought during the Vietnam War from 1969-70, says that veterans, children or grandchildren of veterans and general public are welcomed to attend the ceremony.
“Anybody in the audience is welcomed to a say a few words,” Soileau said.
The local chapter has been performing a Memorial Day ceremony since the chapter was established in 1992. In addition to a prayer, readings and colors, the group will also take time to read the names of the fallen soldiers that are carved into the stone of the flag monument.
“It is basically our way to help remind the public about our veterans’ sacrifice,” Soileau said. “We usually read the names from the monument that start with the Civil War all the way to Afghanistan. All those names on the monument are Evangeline Parish veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. We are trying to keep the tradition going and we want to pay our respects.”