Lake Charles, Louisiana - On Monday, November 11, 2024, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter joined Senator Jeremy Stine, Deputy Secretary Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Dr. Jerome Buller, local elected officials, and members of the Mayor's Armed Forces Commission to break ground on the official Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The memorial, set to be located in Veterans Memorial Park, will display the names of the 885 Louisiana residents who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. According to Mayor Hunter, the groundbreaking ceremony was a fitting tribute to all veterans, particularly those who served in Vietnam and did not receive a proper welcome home.
"We were surprised to learn that there was no officially dedicated Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial," said Mayor Hunter. "Thanks to legislation carried by Senator Jeremy Stine in the last regular session, Lake Charles will be the only city in the state to claim this honor."
The groundbreaking ceremony was part of the city's annual Veterans Day programming and included a Farewell to Warriors Ceremony performed by VVA Chapter 215, a 21-Gun Salute provided by the Marine Corps League Det. 535, and a rendition of Taps played by FK White Director of Bands Betsy Stoupy.
The Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial is being made possible through the successful passage of the LC REBOUND tax-neutral bond proposition passed by voters last fall and a number of private donors. The project is expected to be complete and unveiled as part of the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Ceremony scheduled for March 2025.
Mayor's Armed Forces Commission President James Dodd expressed his appreciation for the groundbreaking ceremony and the opportunity to honor the state's fallen soldiers. "Including this historic groundbreaking with our Veterans Day programming was very welcomed by our Commission members and the veteran community as a whole," he said. "We look forward to unveiling this world-class tribute next spring."
The memorial is expected to serve as a lasting tribute to the men and women from Louisiana who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War.