Ripples
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 23, 2001
ANNA MONICA
Celebrating occasions It happens every year about the same time n graduation! For colleges there are several during the year, but there is only one, big one celebrated in high school. I may have told you before, how impressed I was years ago with the Lutcher High School graduation night. It was almost like Christmas Eve with people all over the streets, jovial and going from one large party to the other. At that time the KC Home was the place for a really big party and may still be, but the atmosphere of the entire towns of Gramercy and Lutcher seem filled with warmth and celebration. Among the definitions Webster gives for the word, celebrate is, “to observe a notable occasion with festivities.” There were two different kinds of celebrations I took part in last week, each with special meaning. One marked the beginning of new careers and the other marked the end of one. My darling nephew, Michael Luminais Jr. “Mikey,” is the first great-grandchild in our family to complete his college education. Family and friends gathered at his parents’ home, to observe the occasion with a party, not only in Mikey’s honor but also for his younger brother, Jonathan. Mikey graduated from UNO and Jonathan from Riverside. Jonathan will be joining Mikey, who finished with a 3.7 GPA and brother Ryan, a 4.0 student, at UNO in the coming school year. It was a fine party filled with very proud relatives and of course, one very proud great-aunt, who happens to write a column. Of course, that was only one party, of many happening that evening. Most of the younger folk were anxious to get to the St. James Boat Club in Gramercy, where there were big goings-on, for the Riverside crowd, I believe. In our family, I think we have not only been busy with graduations for the past few years n it’s going to keep happening and it’s not helping me to feel any younger. I’ll live with it as long as they complete their education. Family and friends also gathered in fond memory and respect for the recent late Edward Hall of Reserve. His daughter, Rhea Bernard, and I have been friends for years. I knew her parents and had the privilege of attending their 50th wedding anniversary years ago. Even on that occasion, Hall’s contribution to the local civil rights movement was recognized. To read his history is to know he was tireless in working for the betterment of his community, his country and his church. He was a dedicated member of the Knights of Peter Claver Council 73 and Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. East 27th street in Reserve is now Edward Hall Street. His death came at age 96. First, Rhea introduced me to her dad’s brother, 102-year-old Robert Hall, still a dapper dresser. Then she shared with me memories of her father and his love of music. She said when he was growing up, he and his family, practicing Catholics, used to be the choir at the local Baptist church, nearby. He played with a band and family and music were always important in his life. His daughters, Sister Cornelia Hall, Esma Brougham and Rhea used to sing with him all the time because he loved it. Even on his last day on earth, they sang with him and he sang “Alleluia.” That about sums up his committed life, and his funeral celebrated that. Celebrate notable occasions n it helps give life meaning. ANNA MONICA, a resident of Garyville, writes this column every Wednesday for L’Observateur.