LAPLACE — Sonya Herbert has been bringing Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home residents to Get High of Life’s Memorial breakfast for the past nine years.

“Harold Keller invites us every year,” Herbert said. “They recognize the veterans from St. John, St. Charles and St. James Parish that have passed away. The breakfast is in memory of them.”

Friday was the 18th Annual Get High on Life Memorial Day breakfast, and veterans and their families gathered in the Knights of Columbus Hall in LaPlace for a breakfast celebration.

“It’s nice that the residents at the War Home are invited,” Hebert said. “We brought 10 veterans this year. (Keller) always goes over and beyond. He comes to the home even when it’s not Veterans Day or Memorial Day just to come visit. This event means a lot to our residents and the community.”

Herbert said the residents look forward to the breakfast every year, adding the residents were ready to get on the bus before she even came in to work.

“The breakfast is just a way for the community to come together and remember the soldiers that scarified for us,” Herbert said. “We never want to forget the fallen. We should remember them always. I want to thank Mr. Keller and all of the volunteers that make the breakfast celebration possible every year.”

As part of the celebration, members from each military branch were asked to stand as their song was played and everyone clapped. Keller, along with Baron Bunch, Chaplin for Lutcher VFW Post 5852, read out the names of local fallen soldiers from World War II all the way through present conflicts.

Keller believes it’s important to remember the service members who fought for freedom, especially those that were lost.

“I think patriotism in America is almost dead in my opinion,” he said. “I had four uncles that served in the Second World War, and one got killed. I remember in 1941 I was sitting at a football game with my daddy and at 2:30 a lady came and said the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, I was 7.”

It was obvious that Keller found great joy in being around so many people that shared his love of country.

“O’Neil Boe was awarded the Silver Star,” Keller said. “He jumped at Normandy, his picture with Dwight D. Eisenhower in the D-day Museum. I asked him, ‘O’Neil, what did he tell you?’ With tears in his eyes, he said ‘Most of y’all will never go home again but you will make history today.’”

L’OBSERVATEUR contributor and Breakfast attendee Ronny Michel said World War II is a part of history that “we need to learn, we need to remember and we need to honor.”

“To be here with my children and my dad and grandchildren is one way I honor the freedom of my country,” she said. “I think this year’s breakfast went wonderfully. We always miss the people that have died since last year, but we always see new faces and younger people who are now serving our country. It’s an incredible experience.”