By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The final weekend in May is traditionally known as the unofficial start of summer, but the long Memorial Day holiday also serves as a time to remember those men and women of the Armed Forces who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

A crowd of local veterans from across the River Parishes gathered at the St. Joan of Arc Church Knights of Columbus Hall in LaPlace for the 12th annual Get High on Life Memorial Day Breakfast.

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.

Breakfast emcee Harold Keller encouraged those in attendance, and others in the community, to save some time during the three-day weekend to remember the sacrifices of the military men and women who have fought for freedom.

“I sometimes think America has become too selfish,” Keller said. “We get too wrapped up in our own lives that we forget those brave souls who put it all on the line for us to be here today.”

Attendance at the breakfast was not as full as previous years. Keller explained that since last year’s breakfast, 22 of the area’s veterans had passed away.

“We are starting to lose more veterans in this region, and we need to do what we can to honor those who are living and those who have passed on,” Keller said. “I didn’t even realized we had lost so many until someone had called it to my attention.”

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, Marines and Coast Guard.  

 

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