Veterans to honor WWII veterans
Published 12:00 am Monday, March 13, 2000
LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / March 13, 2000
RESERVE – Veterans organizations in St. John the Baptist Parish aresponsoring an effort to honor the parish’s World War II veterans.
The project was launched by Quincy Montz of Reserve, working with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts in LaPlace and Reserve and their auxiliaries.
Together, the groups are gathering the names of all World War II veterans, together with a brief history of each veteran’s military service. Thatinformation will be compiled by Montz into a book to be presented to the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans at its opening June 6.
Copies of the book will also be presented to all four branches of the St. JohnParish Library in LaPlace, Reserve, Garyville and Edgard.
All veterans, men and women, who resided in St. John Parish when theyeither enlisted or were drafted into any branch of the U.S. Armed Servicesduring World War II, along with newer parish residents who likewise served in the war will be listed.
Montz estimated these veterans will likely be deceased in 15 years and are dying at a rate of 1,000 per day nationally.
“To date, these men and women are not recognized locally, statewide or nationwide for the great contribution they made toward the preservation of freedom,” Montz said. “It behooves us to act in haste if we wish to honor theones who are still with us.”A grand reunion of World War II veterans of St. John Parish is also on thedrawing board, Montz said, as well as a permanent monument.
Forms are now at each of the parish’s branch libraries for veterans to register and be included in this work. Once completed, forms should bereturned to the library for compilation.
Relatives of veterans now deceased should likewise get copies of the forms to have their relatives included in the book.
Anyone with questions or wanting to request forms can call Quincy Montz at 536-3690 or write P.O. Box 162, Reserve, La. 70084.
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