Natalie Robottom, president of St. John the Baptist Parish, and the Parish Council has issued a proclamation declaring Labor day, Sept. 5, as “Remembrance Day” in a joint recognition to the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 – “9/11” and the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Aug. 29, 2005. Twelve parishes, the city of New Orleans, and the state of Louisiana have made the same proclamation. In attendance they are expecting to have 12 parish presidents, and two state representatives, Joseph Lopinto and Gary Lyn Smith, who will join in this remembrance of these two tragic events.

This event is free to the public and is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. and will start at 1:30 p.m. at Jerusalem Shrine Center, 1940 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan. At the end of the program they will have a concert given by the Jerusalem Shrine Band. The band is made up of professional musicians that will play music from the 1920s to 1980s.

The keynote address will be given by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne. One fireman from the Boston Fire Department, assigned to search and rescue at “9/11,” and two fire fighters from the New York Fire Department,who were present at ground zero will be in attendance. This is a onetime event for Louisiana and hopefully will go down in the history books.