Each Wednesday, L’Observateur recognizes individuals and businesses in the River Parishes who have gone “above and beyond” in their efforts to make this a better place to live, work and play.

We believe an integral part of a community’s wellbeing is an attitude and arena where people who do good things … who work to improve life for others … who try to make a difference … are recognized and saluted.

Because this is a salute to members of the community of the entire River Parishes, we solicit your recommendations for groups or individuals to be considered for inclusion.

This week we salute:

• The veterans of the River Parishes, as well as all residents of the region who attended events last week to celebrate Veterans Day in the community. The men and women of the Armed Forces have given so much to protect our country keep us free to attend events such as those on Thursday and Friday in the region.

• Varsity football teams from East St. John, West St. John, St. Charles Catholic, Riverside Academy, Lutcher and Hahnville for advancing to postseason play this year. Residents across all three River Parishes take great pride in Friday night football and the performance of these teams is a testament to that.

• LaPlace Resident Loni Bourgeois, who recently took a two-day trip to Washington, D.C., to advocate for dialysis patients. Bourgeois, a kidney dialysis patient who receives at-home treatment, was one of six dialysis patients throughout the U.S. invited by the National Kidney Foundation to lobby for an amendment to a bill to assist dialysis patients with their insurance coverage.

• River Parishes Hospital nurses Emily Fletcher and Leslie Wininger, who were recently named to the Great 100 Nurse Foundation’s “Great 100” list for 2011. Fletcher has been an RN in surgical services for more than seven years, while Wininger has been with River Parishes Hospital for nearly five years.