By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LULING – St. Charles Parish broke in its new community center facilities during the annual Veteran’s Day Luncheon at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center in Luling on Thursday.
Veterans from all branches of the military packed the facility for the event, hosted by Parish President V.J. St. Pierre, who is also a veteran. St. Pierre gave a special thank-you to their wives for steadfast emotional support. St. Pierre also gave a touching reading of “I Was Just There Last Night,” a somber story of describing a soldier’s recovery from wartime losses, by James J. Alonzo.
The National World War II Museum’s Victory Belles left their bright red lipstick marks on the foreheads of several male audience members again this year, while covering classics such as South Pacific’s “Honey Bun” and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.”
Celebrations will take place on Sunday and Monday in the rest of the River Region.
St. John the Baptist Parish will honor its veterans with the Veterans Day Parade on Monday, a third annual event. The parade will depart from the Home Depot parking lot on Airline Highway in LaPlace at 10 a.m. and continue west down Airline to the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home, where a celebration will follow.
St. James Parish will continue its Veterans Day tradition with a fireworks celebration on Sunday, Nov. 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Gramercy Park. The event will also feature entertainment, food and drinks. Parish officials encourage attendees to share their veterans’ photos and bring their own lawn chairs. Call 225-562-2525 for more information.