By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur
RESERVE – The Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home held its annual Memorial Day program on Friday to honor the living and deceased veterans of past wars.
The program featured speeches by Parish President Natalie Robottom and Major Steve Guidry, and a special poem reading by SLWVH volunteer Earl “The Pearl” Mannina. The ceremony concluded with a balloon release, placing of a memorial wreath and a flaming helmet memorial. Many eyes moistened as “Taps” was played by the Womens Veterans of Louisiana.
Members of the Paul E. Boyd Detachment No. 579 Marine Corps League of Kenner participated in a moving flag folding ceremony, and the Combat Vets Motorcycle Association donated $9580.80 to the SLWVH to go toward construction of a recreation building for the home’s residents. Additionally, the names of fallen veterans were read by SLWVH staff.
“We look back, and there are lots of wars. Some people look at them from near and some from afar, and they don’t really realize that your lives were touched personally because we see what happens on TV and it looks like its far away,” said St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom, addressing the veterans in the room.
“We take for granted that we’re just able to get up and drive over to visit with our family and friends when many of you who sacrificed everything are no longer near your loved ones. We want to say thank you for all that you did.”
Rosemary Elfer, 88, was acknowledged by the president of Women Veterans of Louisiana for her work in the Army Women’s Auxiliary. Elfer said she and her mother and sister caused a minor sensation when they enlisted at the same time in 1943. Elfer was about 19 at the time and said her mother wanted to hurry and enlist before she reached the cutoff age of 50.
“I was only in for 18 months. It was toward the end of the war. It was the best time of my life — there were men dripping off me! It was wonderful,” joked Elfer.
“It was a different era. It was the Great Depression, and people hardly had anything. Going into the army gave you three square meals a day and two pairs of shoes. A lot of people didn’t even have two pairs of shoes. It was a real step up. It was a good thing. It’s terrible that there had to be a war to do it.”
Like many war veterans, Elfer was insecure about her contributions and didn’t see herself as much of a hero. She acknowledges, however, the work done by others, especially those who engaged in any hand-to-hand combat.
“I wanted to give it my all, but I didn’t give it that much. I was just a mail clerk. It was important because mail was very important in those days, but I don’t feel like as though I’m (important). I just did a natural thing,” she said. “I, too, appreciate the veterans. They’re the real heroes. They fought the war.”