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MORNING EVERYONE.THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT THE 2023 MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY.
WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE MANY OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH US, OUR CHAIRMAN, SCOTT WALKER, COUNCILMAN RICKY TEMPLATE COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER VAN RANKIN, AND AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE POLLY THOMAS.
THANK YOU POLLY FOR BEING HERE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA START, UM, WITH THE, THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE LOUISIANA STATE POLICE.
AND THEN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY OUR JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE CHIEF BRIAN ADAMS. UM, THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WILL BE PLAYED BY AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 77 BAN FROM KENNER, NOT STRANGERS TO US.
WE ALWAYS THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN INVOCATION IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE'RE VERY, VERY BLESSED TO HAVE FAITH-BASED LEADERS REALLY ACT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US THROUGHOUT SO MANY INITIATIVES.
AND WE HAVE TWO OF THEM WITH US TODAY.
UM, A THIRD ROBERT STORY IN THE, IN THE CROWD AS WELL.
BUT REVEREND OREN, GRANT FROM THE SAINT PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH IN GRETNA WILL LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION.
SO I'LL LET THIS GET STARTED WITH, UM, THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE LOUISIANA STATE POLICE.
I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
FATHER IN HEAVEN, YOU ARE SOVEREIGN, SUFFICIENT, AND SUPREME.
WE ARE BLESSED TO BE IN VETERANS AND MEMORIALS SQUARE LORD, AS WE COME THIS MORNING, WE COME WITH OUR HEARTS REPLETE WITH JOY AND WITH GRATEFULNESS, WE'VE COME TO HONOR THE MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
LORD, ON THIS DAY, JEFFERSON PARISH, ALL OF HIS OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS PAUSE TO SAY THANK YOU, LORD.
WE ACT THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR GRACE UPON US.
WE ACT THAT YOU WILL BLESS THIS PARISH IN A SPECIAL WAY.
WE ACT THAT YOU WILL LOOK DOWN UPON OUR PRESIDENT AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ALL OF OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
FATHER, WE PRAY NOW THAT AS WE LOOK TOWARD MEMORIAL DAY ON MONDAY, THAT YOU WOULD BLESS US TO CONTINUE TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, AND THEN WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS IN FAVOR UPON THOSE WHO ARE SERVING EVEN RIGHT NOW.
WE THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR GRACE UPON AMERICA.
YOU'VE BLESSED US FROM SEA, THE SHINING SEED, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS NATION AND TO BE A PART OF THE LAND OF THE FREE AND A HOME OF THE BRAVE.
THESE BLESSINGS WE ACT IN JESUS' NAME.
GOOD MORNING, I'M PRESIDENT CYNTHIA LEE SHANG.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE WITH YOU ALL HERE TODAY ON CELEBRATION OF MEMORIAL DAY AND IN HONOR OF ALL THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY
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TODAY AHEAD OF THE 155TH MEMORIAL DAY.WE STAND TOGETHER TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED WHILE SERVING IN THE US MILITARY.
THE REASONS BEHIND CHOOSING MILITARY SERVICE DIFFER FROM PERSON TO PERSON, BUT THERE'S A UNIVERSAL UNDERSTANDING.
SERVICE MEANS SACRIFICE EVEN IF THAT SACRIFICE IS ONE'S OWN LIFE.
ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS DECORATION DAY, MEMORIAL DAY ORIGINATED IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR AND OFFICIALLY BECAME A FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN 1971.
THE CIVIL WAR CLAIMED MORE LIVES THAN ANY CONFLICT IN THE UNITED STATES HISTORY AND REQUIRED THIS ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S FIRST NATIONAL CEMETERIES.
BY THE LATE 1860S, THE AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BEGAN HOLDING SPRINGTIME TRIBUTES TO THESE COUNTLESS FALLEN SOLDIERS, DECORATING THEIR GRAVES WITH FLOWERS AND RECITING PRAYERS.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO HONOR THE IMPACT OF THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF SO MANY MEN AND WOMEN, WHICH IMPACTS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THE STORIES OF THEIR SACRIFICES LIVE ON, AND THE PRIDE OF MEMORIES OF THEIR LOVED ONES.
AND AT OBSERVANCES, LIKE THIS ONE HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH TODAY, THEY INSTILL A SENSE OF PRIDE AMONG CITIZENS.
THEY INSPIRE NEW GENERATIONS TO RAISE THEIR HANDS IN SERVICE.
THERE IS NO GREATER SACRIFICE THAN TO OFFER ONE'S LIFE FOR THE GREATER GOOD.
WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE WITH US TODAY, AND I WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO INVITE THEM UP TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE OUR CHAIRMAN, COUNCILMAN SCOTT WALKER, COUNCILMAN AT LARGE RICKY TEMPLE AND COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER VAN RANKIN.
SO I WANNA INVITE THEM ALL TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
MEMORIAL DAY IS NOT A HAPPY DAY.
IT'S NOT VETERAN'S DAY, AND SOMETIMES YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT BY SEEING PEOPLE ON TV SAY, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OR HAVE A GREAT TRAVEL WEEKEND.
ENJOY THE GRILL OUT WITH YOUR FAMILY ON MONDAY.
IT'S NOT THAT KIND OF HOLIDAY.
WE GET TO DO THOSE THINGS BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICES THAT WERE MADE AND THE LIVES THAT WERE LOST AND THE FREEDOMS THAT WE GAINED THROUGH THAT.
SO IT ALWAYS IRKS ME JUST A LITTLE BIT TO SEE ON MONDAY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA PUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA TALK ON TV ABOUT HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.
THE ONLY REASON THAT DAY CAN BE HAPPY FOR ANYBODY IS BECAUSE OF WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO LAID THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE DID FOR US.
SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE DEFENDING OUR FREEDOMS IN AMERICA.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMAN RICKY TEMPLATE HERE.
UH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BE ABLE TO SIT HERE AND SHARE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, US, UH, REMEMBERING IN MEMORIAL DAY.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE WE ALL TAKE FROM THIS WEEKEND, AND I, YOU KNOW, SOME OF USS GONNA ECHO SOME OF THE SAME VERBIAGE, UH, OF WHAT MEMORIAL DAY IS, BUT ON THIS WEEKEND, AND ESPECIALLY ON MONDAY IS MORE MEMORIAL DAY WHEN YOU'RE SITTING THERE FIRING UP YOUR BARBECUE PIT AND, AND HOLDING YOUR GRANDCHILD OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES ARE ALL OVER AND FRIENDS, UH, CELEBRATING MEMORIAL DAY.
THERE'S AN IMPORTANT FACTOR THERE THAT WE ALL NEED TO ECHO HERE AND I THINK WE ALL ARE, IS THAT THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THAT WAS MADE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, OUR FRIENDSHIPS OVER FIRE UP THAT GRILL AND, AND HAVE A, A, A, A CELEBRATION OF A MEMORY OF OUR, OUR VETERANS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE? BECAUSE THERE'S ONE ULTIMATE THING THAT WE CANNOT ALL FORGET IS THAT THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WAS MADE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE.
UH, AND THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THAT WAS MADE, UH, GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT FREEDOM ISN'T FREE.
THERE'S A PRICE TO BE PAID AND, AND OUR MEN AND WOMEN HAVE DONE THAT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO LIVE THE LIFE WE DO IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY WE CALL HOME.
SO I HATS OFF TO IN MEMORIES OF EVERY VETERAN WHO ACTUALLY SERVED OUR GREAT COUNTRY AND MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, AND THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
I'M COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER VAN BRAN.
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE AND IT'S A SACRIFICE THAT CONTINUES FOR GENERATIONS.
UM, MY, UH, GODFATHER, MY PARRAN LOST HIS DAD SHORTLY BEFORE HE WAS BORN ON A BEACH IN FRANCE IN WORLD WAR II.
AND I REMEMBER AS A CHILD, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE VERY AWARE OF, UM, AT ALL OF OUR FAMILY CELEBRATIONS AND FAMILY EVENT EVENTS AND GATHERINGS, UM, THAT MISSING MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
AND MY PARRAN GREW UP, OF COURSE, WITHOUT HIS DAD THERE, UM,
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HIS CHILDREN WITHOUT THEIR GRANDFATHER THERE AND THEIR CHILDREN WITHOUT THEIR GRA GREAT GRANDFATHER THERE.SO AGAIN, IT IS A SACRIFICE THAT WE TAKE THIS TIME TO REMEMBER BECAUSE IT CONTINUES THROUGH THE GENERATIONS AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HONOR AND TO REMEMBER.
I'M HONORED NOW TO WELCOME TODAY'S GUEST SPEAKER.
UH, MR. MATT BAILEY IS A NON-COMBAT VETERAN WHO SERVED IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FROM 1998 TO 2004 IN BOTH LOUISIANA AND COLORADO.
HE WAS ENLISTED, HE WAS AN ENLISTED SOLDIER AND SERVED IN THE 101087TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY AS A MOTOR TRANSPORT OPERATOR.
AND IN THE 1 56 IN 101ST ARMY BANDS AS A PERCUSSIONIST, A NATIVE OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA, AND A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE, MATT RECEIVED A BA FROM NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY AND A LAW DEGREE FROM THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL.
AFTER LAW SCHOOL, HE SERVED AS A MILITARY AND VETERANS LIAISON AND A LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT FOR US SENATOR MARY LANDRY, HELPING TO SECURE NEEDED FUNDING FOR LOUISIANA'S MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND SUPPORTING QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVES FOR SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE.
MORE RECENTLY, MATT SERVED AS INNOVATION AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER FOR A MAJOR RESEARCH STUDY ON VETERANS SUICIDE PREVENTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
IN ADDITION TO A DYNAMIC CAREER IN GOVERNMENT, HIGHER EDUCATION AND NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP, MATT HAS SERVED IN A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP ROLES FOR NATIONAL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING TEAM RED, WHITE, AND BLUE.
THE MISSION CONTINUES AND TEAM RUBICON.
WE'RE VERY HONORED TODAY TO HAVE MR. BAILEY BE OUR GUEST SPEAKER.
IT'S, UH, TRULY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY.
UM, I WANNA START WITH SOME OF THE HISTORY OF MEMORIAL DAY, SOME OF WHICH PRESIDENT SHANG ALREADY MENTIONED.
UM, A AS SHE SAID, MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES BEGAN AFTER THE CIVIL WAR AS A WAY TO HONOR THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WHO DIED FIGHTING IN THAT TERRIBLE CONFLICT, INITIALLY KNOWN AS DECORATION DAY, A DAY WHEN ALL AMERICANS OF ALL STRIPES IN BOTH THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH WOULD INTERRUPT THEIR DAILY LIVES TO PAUSE AND HONOR THE FALLEN SOLDIER SOLDIERS BY DECORATING THE GRAVES WITH FLOWERS.
AND THOSE OBSERVANCES WERE SCHEDULED FOR LATE MAY BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE FLOWERS WERE MOST ABUNDANTLY IN BLOOM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
52 YEARS AGO, IN 1971, CONGRESS PASSED A LAW TO FINALLY MAKE MEMORIAL DAY A FEDERAL HOLIDAY AND SOLIDIFIED THE NATIONAL OBSERVANCE AS TAKING PLACE ON THE LAST MONDAY OF MAY EACH YEAR.
FAST FORWARD TO 2000, AND HERE'S A FACT THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGAIN ACTED TO CREATE THE NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE CALLING UPON ALL AMERICANS TO PAUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AT 3:00 PM LOCAL TIME ON MEMORIAL DAY EACH YEAR, TO TO REMEMBER AND HONOR ALL AMERICANS WHO DIED IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION.
THIS NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE WAS DESIGNED AS AN ACT OF NATIONAL UNITY AROUND WHICH ALL AMERICANS COULD COME TOGETHER IN A WAY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE TRUE DEPTH AND GRAVITY OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THE FALLEN MADE TO OUR COUNTRY IN JUST A FEW DAYS.
IT WILL BE MONDAY, MAY 29TH, 2023 MEMORIAL DAY.
I'VE ALREADY SET A REMINDER ON MY PHONE FOR THE NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, AND IT WOULDN'T OFFEND ME AT ALL.
IF YOU WANTED TO SET, SET A REMINDER ON YOUR PHONE AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW, MEMORIAL DAY IS A TIME TO PAUSE, REFLECT, AND HONOR THOSE AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR US, INDIVIDUALS WITH SUCH A DEEP COMMITMENT TO AMERICA THAT THEY LEFT THEIR FAMILIES, PUT ON THE UNIFORM AND SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO SERVE AND ULTIMATELY FOUGHT ON OUR BEHALF BEFORE MAKING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
LET'S JUST STOP AND REALLY THINK ABOUT THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THAT THAT TAKES.
THEY DIED IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY FOR ALL AMERICANS AND FOR EACH OTHER, AND FOR US, THE AMERICANS WHO'VE COME AFTER THEM.
THE QUESTION I WANNA POSE TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE GATHERED HERE TODAY, CAN WE LIVE IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY TO HONOR THOSE WHO MADE THAT ULTIMATE SACRIFICE? OUR MISSION, IF WE'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT IT, IS TO LIVE IN SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY FOR ALL AMERICANS AND FOR EACH OTHER, AND FOR THE AMERICANS WHO WILL COME AFTER US.
IN MY EXPERIENCES, I'VE LEARNED THAT THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO HONOR A PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE THAN TO SERVE IN THEIR NAMES AND IN THEIR HONOR, I THINK WE'RE ALL CALLED TO SERVE, TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER, TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES, AND TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.
AND I THINK THIS SERVICE CAN LOOK LIKE A RANGE OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND IS UNIQUE TO EVERY PERSON AND EVERY COMMUNITY IN THIS VEIN OF HONORING THOSE WHO DIED IN SERVICE BY CHOOSING TO LIVE IN SERVICE.
WHAT I WANNA SHARE IS A LITTLE INFORMATION
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ON SOME OF THE GREAT VETERAN LED AND VETERAN SERVING ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO BE PART OF IN RECENT YEARS AS YOU CONSIDER HOW YOU MIGHT SERVE, MAYBE SOMETHING I SAY WILL STRIKE A CHORD, SO I'LL MAKE SURE AND GIVE YOU A WAY TO LEARN MORE WITH EACH ONE.IT'S A VETERAN LED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES COMMUNITIES BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER NATURAL DISASTERS IN HUMANITARIAN CRISES FROM HAITI AND HUNGARY TO HOUMA AND HAMMOND.
THERE'S NOWHERE IN THE WORLD TEAM RUBICON WON'T GO WHEN NEEDED TO HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.
TEAM RUBICON FOCUSES ON UNDERSERVED AND ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED COMMUNITIES PROVIDING ALL OF ITS SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE TO HELP RECO, TO HELP COMMUNITIES BEGIN THEIR RECOVERY SOONER.
IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT CONCEPT.
YOU TAKE MILITARY RETIREES AND VETERANS WITH ALL SORTS OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES, OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AND OPERATING IN TOUGH ENVIRON ENVIRONMENTS.
PUT THEM TOGETHER WITH TRAINED FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEN INVITE CIVILIANS TO JOIN THE TEAM TOO.
FOLKS WITH THESE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS ARRIVE ON SCENE AFTER A STORM SET UP CAMP, QUICKLY BUILD AND BEGIN TO EXECUTE A PLAN AND MELD TOGETHER INTO A HARD CHARGING TEAM IN VERY SHORT ORDER.
I WAS THERE ON THE GROUND IN INDEPENDENCE, LOUISIANA A FEW DAYS AFTER HURRICANE IDA.
AS MEANINGFUL AS IT WAS HELPING RESIDENTS IN ANG HOA PARISH RECOVER, IT WAS INSPIRING TO SEE THE TEAM RUBICON OPERATION EVOLVE IN REAL TIME WITH WAVES OF VOLUNTEERS FLYING IN FROM ALL ACROSS AMERICA, MANY OF WHOM WERE COMING TO LOUISIANA FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IT WAS REALLY AMAZING TO SEE, AND I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I CAN DEPLOY WITH TEAM RUBICON AGAIN.
SEEING AMERICANS OF ALL DIFFERENT STRIPES COME TOGETHER TO SERVE PEOPLE THEY'VE NEVER MET AND WILL LIKELY NEVER SEE AGAIN.
IT'S LIKE A CONCENTRATED SHOT OF PATRIOTISM.
IT RENEWS YOUR FAITH IN AMERICA.
SOMETHING ELSE I'LL SAY ABOUT TEAM RUBICON, THE OTHER SMART THING ABOUT THE CONCEPT IS THAT BY GIVING VETERANS A WAY TO COME TOGETHER, USE THEIR SKILLS AND SERVE AGAIN, IT PROVIDES THEM WITH THINGS THEY MIGHT HAVE LOST AFTER THEIR MILITARY SERVICE, PURPOSE COMMUNITY, AND A STRONGER SENSE OF SELF.
IF YOU WANNA LEARN MORE AND POSSIBLY JOIN TEAM RUBICON, YOU CAN GO TO THEIR WEBSITE, TEAM RUBICON USA.ORG.
AND AS OF YESTERDAY, THERE IS A NEW SERIES ON THE ROKU CHANNEL CALLED TEAM RUBICON THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE STORIES AND THE IMPACT THAT THAT ORGANIZATION'S HAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
NEXT I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION CALLED TEAM RED, WHITE AND BLUE, OR TEAM R W B FOR SHORT.
IN THE MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS ARE TRAINED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE THE MISSION, INCLUDING PUSHING PAST THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL LIMITS, AND OFTEN IGNORING THEIR OWN WELLBEING.
SELFLESS SERVICE IS ONE OF THE ARMY VALUES, AND THIS CONCEPT IS RECOGNIZED ACROSS ALL THE MILITARY BRANCHES AS VITAL TO MISSION SUCCESS.
BUT ONCE SOMEONE HAS TRANSITIONED INTO CIVILIAN LIFE, THE MISSION FIRST MINDSET SOMETIMES CONTRIBUTES TO VETERANS NEGLECTING THEIR OWN HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
LIKEWISE, THAT LOSS OF THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY CAN ALSO IMPACT WELLBEING, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH.
T R W B PROVIDES A STRUCTURED WAY TO BRING TOGETHER CURRENT SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND CIVILIANS, AND GUIDES THEM THROUGH BUILDING HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES WITH A FOCUS ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THIS LOOKS LIKE GROUP RUNS, WALKS AND RUCKS, LOW PRESSURE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT AND EXERCISE.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE FIRST EVENT I SHOWED UP FOR AT CITY PARK ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
I WAS NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT I WAS WALKING INTO.
WOULD I BE ABLE TO KEEP UP? WOULD I FEEL WELCOME? I LEARNED RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT TEAM RWB WELCOMES EVERYONE AND REQUIRES NOTHING BUT A DESIRE TO CONNECT AND TRY ONE'S BEST.
I WAS PUT AT EASE IMMEDIATELY AND SAW THAT ALL FITNESS LEVELS WERE ACCOMMODATED AND NO ONE WOULD BE LEFT BEHIND.
ULTIMATELY, TEAM RWB HELPS BUILD COMMUNITY AND HELPS VETERANS SEE THAT THEIR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP@TEAMRWB.ORG OR YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A TEAM RWB APP ON YOUR PHONE.
THE THIRD NATIONAL ORGANIZATION I WANNA MENTION HAS A UNIQUE NAME.
IT'S CALLED THE MISSION CONTINUES, LIKE THE OTHER TWO ORGANIZATIONS I'VE MENTIONED, COMMUNITY IS AT THE CENTER OF WHAT THE MISSION CONTINUES IS ALL ABOUT.
THIS ORGANIZATION WORKS ALL ACROSS AMERICA TO CONNECT VETERAN VOLUNTEERS WITH NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HIGH NEED AND UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE KNOWLEDGE THAT VETERANS ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO SERVE AND LEAD IN COMMUNITIES THAT THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES VETERANS GOT WHILE SERVING IN THE MILITARY.
PREPARE PREPARED THEM TO STEP UP AND TACKLE THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST ALL AROUND US.
THE IDEA THAT VETERANS ARE ALREADY SERVANT LEADERS, SOME OF WHOM MIGHT BE ACTIVELY SEARCHING FOR THAT NEW SENSE OF PURPOSE, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE WHERE THEY ARE.
SO THE MISSION CONTINUES TAKES THESE VETERANS WHO ARE PRIMED TO SERVE AND LEAD AND GIVES THEM COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TRAINING, HELPS THEM GROW AS INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDES THEM WITH A FRAMEWORK TO DEVELOP PROJECTS THAT IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITIES IN REAL TIME.
AND THE PROJECTS AREN'T TOKEN, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO MAKE A REAL AND IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE, OFTEN IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED THE MOST HELP.
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AND I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND ON THE GROUND IN LOS ANGELES, NEWARK, ATLANTA, CHICAGO, AND HERE IN THE NEW ORLEANS REGION.PROJECTS TO IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND INCREASE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, TACKLE FOOD INSECURITY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, CULTIVATE NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY AND PRIDE AND MORE.
OVER IN THE NINTH WARD, THE LOCAL MISSION CONTINUED SERVICE PLATOON HAS IMPROVED OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL SPACES FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND HELPED DEVELOP A 40 ACRE WETLAND PARK FROM WHAT USED TO BE AN AREA OF BLIGHT AND ILLEGAL DUMPING AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA.
NOW IT'S THE SANKOFA WETLAND PARK AND NATURE TRAIL.
ON THE WEBSITE IT SAYS, SERVICE TO OTHERS IS MORE THAN A VALUE.
AND IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION WHO SHOULD VOLUNTEER, IT SAYS, OUR SERVICE PROJECTS ARE FOR ALL VETERANS WITH A DESIRE TO CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE.
AND FOR ALL NON-VETERANS THAT WANT TO BE PART OF A NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES, I ENUR, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOLUNTEER AT ONE OF THE UPCOMING SERVICE EVENTS.
YOU CAN FIND ALL THE INFORMATION@MISSIONCONTINUES.ORG G.
SO JUST TO BRING IT FULL CIRCLE, I RETURNED TO THE QUESTION I POSED IN MY REMARKS EARLIER, HOW CAN WE TRULY HONOR THOSE WHO DIED IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY? I BELIEVE ONE WAY TO HONOR THEM IS TO CHOOSE TO LIVE IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OR WHEREVER THERE'S A NEED.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO HONOR THE FALLEN.
AND DON'T FORGET TO JOIN THE NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE ON MONDAY AT 3:00 PM THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. BAILEY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
I CAN SPEAK FIRSTHAND ON TEAM RUBICON AND WHAT THEY DO.
UM, THEY WERE HERE WITH US HELPING RECOVERY FOR HURRICANE IDA AND THEN THE TORNADOES THAT WE HAD LAST DECEMBER, THEY LANDED AN ASSISTANT, AS YOU SAY, THEY JUST LAND AND THEY'RE READY TO HELP INDEPENDENT OF ANY OF REQUESTS FOR US.
THEY WERE JUST HERE ON THE GROUND WITH US.
SO, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE ARMED FORCES MUSICAL TRIBUTE BY THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 77 BAND.
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AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE STRONG FAITH-BASED PARTNERS WITH US.UM, AND THIS, THIS LADY WILL BE NO STRANGER TO YOU.
UM, JEFFERSON PARISH CHEF SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THE HEAD CHAPLAIN IS KATHY STORY, HER HUSBAND ROBERT'S STORY.
UM, THEY LEAD, UM, THEY'RE THE PASTORS OF RIVER CHURCH NOAH, AND ALONG WITH REVEREND GRANT, UM, BOTH OF THOSE CHURCHES DO SO MUCH FOR US AND, AND DO SO MUCH IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, REVEREND STORY, WELL, I'M THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF A WORLD WAR II VETERAN, UH, PASTOR PAUL RADKE, AND HE LOVED SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY.
HE SERVED IN THE VFW AND THAT WAS PASSED ON TO ME.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PASS THAT DESIRE FOR SERVICE ONTO THE NEXT GENERATION.
I'VE BEEN OVER ALL PRISON MINISTRY, BUT IN 2009 WE STARTED A LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM.
SO TODAY WE HAVE 32 PASTORS WHO ARE NOW LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAINS THAT WE HAVE TRAINED AT RIDE ALONG WITH OUR JP OFFICERS AND GO OUT ON CRIME SCENES TO BRING COMFORT AND PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN, IN TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST, I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE, UH, WHEREVER GOD OPENS THE DOOR.
AND I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AROUND EACH DAY EVEN IN SMALL WAYS, HOW WE CAN SERVE OTHERS.
LET'S BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE LIFT UP OUR HEARTS TO YOU TODAY AS WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY.
LET US NEVER TAKE THEIR SACRIFICE FOR GRANTED, BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHO NOW CARRY ON WITHOUT THEM.
BLESS AND COMFORT THEM FOR YOUR WORDS AS BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED AND THAT YOU OWE GOD OR NEAR TO THE BROKENHEARTED.
WE ARE SO THANKFUL TODAY THAT WE LIVE IN A NATION THAT WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE FREEDOM FOR ALL, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR RELIGION.
LET US NEVER TAKE THESE FREEDOMS FOR GRANTED.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES WHO HAVE BRAVELY SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN TIMES OF WAR, AS WELL AS TIMES OF PEACE.
WE ASK YOU TO STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT THEM.
MAY THEY HAVE COURAGE TO STAND IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.
AND WE PRAY PSALMS 91 OVER THEM, THAT THEY THAT DWELL IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY.
I WILL SAY OF THE LORD, HE IS MY REFUGE IN MY FORTRESS, MY GOD IN HIM.
WILL I TRUST AS WE LEAVE HERE TODAY, MAY WE ALWAYS BE MINDFUL OF YOUR LOVING PRESENCE AND THEN YOU, OH GOD, WE CAN FIND TRUE PEACE AND COMFORT FOR OUR SOULS.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US, MAYBE VIA VIDEO OR, UM, SEEING A VIDEO OF THIS LATER, UM, YOU DON'T GET TO SEE WHAT I SEE.
I, I SEE INCREDIBLE CROWD BEFORE US, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE VETERANS.
SO, UM, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US UP HERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR MEMORIAL DAY, UM, TODAY.
ALSO, WE WANNA THANK OUR JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT, BRIAN ADAMS, ALONG WITH LOUISIANA STATE POLICE, REVEREND WARREN GRANT, REVEREND KATHY'S STORY, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 77 BAND, WHO ALWAYS, UM, HELPS US OUT ON THESE THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND THEN OUR OWN JEFFERSON PARISH DEPARTMENTS WHO HELP US PUT ON SO MANY EVENTS, UH, PUBLIC EVENTS, OUR RECREATION, PARKWAYS, GENERAL SERVICES, AND OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE.
AS WE CONCLUDE THIS CEREMONY, LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE WHO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES FOR THIS COUNTRY.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND THERE'S REFRESHMENTS OVER THERE, SO THANK YOU.