New name for ‘New 51’: St. John pushes for Veterans Memorial Highway

Published 12:05 am Saturday, March 18, 2017

EDGARD — Veterans might soon be honored with the dedication of a major artery through St. John the Baptist Parish.

Parish President Natalie Robottom told Parish Council members during a meeting Tuesday night in Edgard that she anticipates no problems dedicating what is known’s as “new” U.S. 51 from Airline Highway to the Interstate 10 exchange as “Veterans Memorial Highway.”

That stretch of highway is a busy corridor, one of the two main thoroughfares linking the heavily traveled Interstate 10 to Airline Highway. Officials from American Legion Post 383 in LaPlace petitioned the Council to rename the highway to honor veterans, with the message being that is a way the parish is able honor all veterans who have served their country.

However, Robottom said renaming the highway would require action by the state legislature but certainly all agreed the highway needed to be dedicated to those who have served.

“We thank you for you service,” Councilwoman Jaclyn Hotard said. “We will find a way to honor veterans.”

— By Richard Meek