By KEVIN CHIRI

Editor and Publisher

RESERVE – Freddie Young Sr. has to bite his tongue when you start asking about the kids of today, and the work ethic that goes with them.

&#8220I probably shouldn’t say why I think they don’t want to work,” he said.

For Young, now 80 years of age, work has been something that he has always loved.

After finishing school after just the seventh grade, he was already working in the sugar cane fields cutting cane with his dad.

By the age of 17, he joined the Navy and stayed in for 12 years, then came home to St. John Parish where he worked for 38 years for Godchaux Sugar.

Now at 80, Young is showing no signs of slowing down.

He works most anywhere he can find handyman jobs, doing lots of yard work, painting, and other jobs that keep him busy.

Hence the disdain for the discussion about today’s youth.

&#8220Kids just want the easy money today,” he said. &#8220They don’t want to work. Sometimes I don’t know why, but then you look at how they just want to get it easy, and you know. But I better not talk about that.”

On this day, Young was found working at one of his regular spots on Central Avenue for David and Sharry Millet. David is a semi-retired engineer and Sharry owns the flower shop across the street.

&#8220He’s worked for us for at least 20 years and you can tell that the work he does keeps him healthy,” David Millet said. &#8220When he’s here, he is in charge and likes to take control of what he is doing. He has always done a wonderful job helping us.”

Born and raised in Reserve, Young went to Our Lady of Grace School until the seventh grade, then just quit to start working.

When he joined the Navy at the age of 17 in 1944, he got to see the world even if it was serving during World War II.

&#8220It was hard being at war, but I did the best I could,” he said. &#8220I felt good serving my country.”

When he came home to start working at Godchaux Sugar, he stayed there for most of his career, although getting laid off twice late in his working years with them, due to cutbacks at the plant. But they always called him back when things improved.

Between those stints, he worked for Avondale Shipyard and was an International Longshoreman on the dock, finally retiring from Godchaux in his final time with them in 1962.

&#8220I never wanted to retire,” he said. &#8220I enjoy working, and I still enjoy it to this day. I probably won’t stop working until I die.”

Young still can be found working up on ladders cutting tree limbs and painting, and has no real health problems, other than a little hip injury he got from falling off a ladder.

He does take some time off and likes to watch TV, and go to football and baseball games.

Young was married for 51 years and had seven children, however his wife died last year.