By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – River Parishes residents from as far as Lutcher gathered at the LaPlace Knights of Columbus Hall Friday morning for a pre-Memorial Day breakfast to honor the area’s Armed Forces veterans.

St. John Parish leaders joined local veterans and their families, who dined on a simple breakfast of eggs, grits, bacon and sausage while listening to patriotic tunes played by a jazz quartet.

Friday’s event marked the 12th year for the annual Get High on Life Memorial Day Breakfast. The morning’s events were organized and emceed by Get High on Life Leader Harold Keller.

“I get such a high every year when we get together to do this event,” Keller said. “You veterans, and those who are no longer here, deserve our utmost respect.”

The St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard opened the festivities by presenting the flags while the band played the Star Spangled Banner. Parish leaders including Parish President Natalie Robottom, Chief Administrative Officer Marie Brown-Mercadel, Assessor Whitney Joseph and School Board member Russ Wise helped pass out the meals to those in attendance from the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve.

Following the breakfast, members of each branch of the military were honored one at a time as the band played the themes for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.