* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US FOR OUR ANNUAL VETERANS DAY CEREMONY FOR JEFFERSON PARISH. IT'S ALWAYS SUCH AN HONOR TO SEE SO MANY VETERANS HERE WITH US. UM, I KNOW WE'RE ALSO STREAMING ONLINE ON JPTV. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE WITH US TODAY IN PERSON ARE, UM, ARE STREAMING IN AND TUNING IN THAT WAY AS WELL. UM, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I DO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. I, I THINK MANY PEOPLE, UM, HERE MAY HAVE KNOWN MR. ALMAR. I KNOW OUR JEFFERSON PARISH FAMILY DID. HE NEVER MISSED A COUNCIL MEETING, UM, AND NEVER MISSED THE VETERAN'S DAY CEREMONY. I KNOW HE WAS ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. UM, AND SO IF WE COULD TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, WE WERE REALLY SAD TO HEAR HE, HE PASSED YESTERDAY. WE'LL GET STARTED. WE'LL DO THAT RIGHT NOW. UM, SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A PROGRAM. TODAY'S CEREMONY. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. WE HAVE SOME, SOME SPECIAL GUESTS WITH HERE, WITH US HERE TODAY. UM, WE'LL START, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BY THE JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS PERFORMER AND VOCALIST, MELISSA MCKENZIE. UM, WE'LL HAVE THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE JEFFERSON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE COLOR GUARD. THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY MISS TEEN WHEELCHAIR, USA, EMMY RABLAY, ALONG WITH HER GRANDFATHER, WHO'S A NAVY VETERAN, MR. CLAUDE PONTIFF. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE INVOCATION BY OUR DEAR FRIEND, UH, REVEREND KATHY RADKEY STORY. SHE'S THE HEAD CHAPLAIN OF THE JPSO, UM, ALSO PASTORS RIVER CHURCH WITH HER HUSBAND. UM, WE DO HAVE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE WITH US TODAY. SO WE WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US. UH, WE HAVE ARITA BOHANNAN, JEFFERSON PARISH, COUNCILWOMAN OF DISTRICT FOUR. TODAY WE HAVE COUNCILMAN HANS BURG OF DISTRICT FIVE WITH JEFFERSON PARISH ANTHEM. WE ALSO HAVE KENNER COUNCILMAN, UM, RONNIE SCHWART AND HARRY HAN MAYER, TIM BODIER. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING HERE. UM, SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE, THE COLOR GUARD AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. WALK TIME. SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE WHAT'S SO PROUD AT THE TWILIGHTS LASTING WHO'S BROUGHT STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS? THE PIT OR THE PARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO, AND THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR GAVE THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. OH, SAY THAT STAR. WE'RE GOOD. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE ALL 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. [00:05:22] I AM PROUD TO BE THE DAUGHTER OF A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II. MY DAD, PASTOR PAUL RADKE, PASTORED ON THE WEST BANK FOR 34 YEARS. I'VE HEARD MANY STORIES OF, UH, HIS TIME OVERSEAS. ONE IN PARTICULAR ALWAYS STOOD OUT. HE WAS IN THE PACIFIC. AND WHEN THESE YOUNG GIS GET AWAY FROM HOME, SOMETIMES THEY DO CRAZY THINGS. SO ONE DAY HE AND HIS FRIENDS DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD COMMANDEER A TUGBOAT IN Y OKLAHOMA, UH, HARBOR. AND IT, THEY CAME UP ALONGSIDE THE USS IOWA AND MY DAD DECIDED SINCE HE WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP, HE WOULD GET HIS BINOCULARS AND GO OUT ON THE, ON THE TOP DECK AND LOOK UP AND DOWN THIS BIG SHIP, THIS BIG WAR SHIP. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY GOT CALLED BACK TO THE BASE. WHEN HE GOT THERE, HE ASKED THE MPS WHAT'S GOING ON? THEY SAID, WELL, THERE WERE THESE IDIOTS THAT CAME ALONGSIDE THE USS IOWA, AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS A KAMIKAZE AND WE WERE JUST, WE HAD OUR GUNS TRAINED JUST FIXING TO BLOW 'EM OUT OF THE WATER WHEN THIS CRAZY GI GOT OUT THERE WITH ITS BINOCULARS AND STARTED LOOKING AT THE SHIP. SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY, . I THINK SOME OF US, UH, ALL OF US THAT ARE CHILDREN OF VETERANS ARE ALL THANKFUL THAT OUR PARENTS CAME HOME. BUT OUR PRAYERS ARE FOR THOSE WHOSE FAMILIES DID NOT. THEIR LOVED ONES DID NOT COME HOME. BUT WE'RE THANKFUL FOR OUR VETERANS TODAY. SO LET'S BOW OUR HEARTS AND HEADS IN PRAYER TODAY. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY AND WE GIVE YOU THANKS. AS WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE BRAVELY SERVED OUR NATION IN TIMES OF WAR, AS WELL AS IN TIMES OF PEACE, BLESS AND STRENGTHEN OUR VETERANS AS WELL AS THOSE IN OUR ARMED FORCES WHO RISK THEIR LIVES DAILY. GIVE THEM COURAGE TO FACE THE EVILS THAT COME AGAINST THEM. GRANT THEM A SENSE OF YOUR ABIDING PRESENCE AND PROTECTION WHEREVER THEY GO. WE ASK YOU TO HAVE MERCY ON OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS WHO'VE RETURNED HOME IN PAIN AFTER GIVING THEIR ALL FOR THEIR COUNTRY. BLESS THEM, RESTORE THEIR SOULS, HEAL THEIR BODIES, BRING SPIRITUAL COMFORT AND PEACE TO THEIR MINDS. FATHER, WE ASK YOU WOULD BLESS THE FAMILIES OF OUR MILITARY WHO STAY BEHIND WHERE THEIR LOVED ONES SERVE, KEEP THEM SAFE, AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR NEEDS ACCORDING TO YOUR ABUNDANCE. LORD, WE ASK YOU TO ANOINT THE CHAPLAINS AND OTHERS WHO BRING YOUR WORD TO OUR MILITARY, BLESS THEIR MINISTRY AND MAKE THEIR EFFORTS FRUITFUL. WE ASK YOU TO PRESERVE THE LIVES OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM AS THEY DEFEND OUR CITIZENS. PROTECT THEM AS THEY PROTECT US. MOST OF ALL, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD TURN THE HEARTS OF ALL MILITARY AND CIVILIAN TO YOU. AND MAY WE FIND TRUE PEACE AND COMFORT FOR OUR SOULS IN KNOWING THAT YOU OWE GOD OR OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE. WE PRAY TODAY YOU WOULD BLESS AMERICA AND BRING UNITY TO OUR COUNTRY. WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. I COULD BE SEATED. SO AGAIN, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE WITH US TODAY. UM, BUT WE DO THIS VETERANS DAY CEREMONY EVERY YEAR, AND SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IS LESS TALKING AND MORE MUSIC. AND SO WE'RE GONNA DO THAT THIS MORNING. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. WE ALWAYS HAVE THIS AMERICAN LEGION BAND. UM, THEY COME AND THEY PERFORM EVERY YEAR, UH, USUALLY JUST ONE OR TWO SONGS, BUT THIS YEAR THEY HAVE PREPARED A NUMBER OF SONGS FOR US. UM, AND WAYNE IS GOING TO INTRODUCE THE SONGS AS THEY PERFORM THEM. SO PLEASE ENJOY IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY HAD COFFEE AND DONUTS AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME IN THE BACK. UM, AND WE'LL JUST GET STARTED WITH SOME MUSIC. WE ARE THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 77 BAND FROM KENNER, LOUISIANA. AND THIS IS, UH, A SMALL PORTION OF OUR BAND, BUT WE'RE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GONNA PLAY, UH, VERY POPULAR MARCH, THE AMERICAN AMERICANS. WE, JOHN FILLMORE, 1, 2 1 2. [00:13:34] OUR NEXT SONG WILL BE, UH, A VERY POPULAR, UH, MUSICIAN. UH, JOHN PHILLIPS SOUSA WROTE THE LIBERTY BELL MARCH. OKAY. [00:18:14] OUR BAND IS, UM, WE'RE COMING UP, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, UH, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT A HUNDRED YET, BUT IT'S, UH, IT, WE STARTED AS THE AMERICAN LEGION POST, UH, 1 25 BAND AND THE FRENCH QUARTER IN 1928. AND THIS BAND HAS CONTINUED, UH, AND MOVED TO A COUPLE PLACES. BUT WE NOW WE'RE IN KENNER, LOUISIANA, AND WE'RE A PART OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 77 BAND. WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY, NOT ONLY, UH, WITH OUR BAND. IT'S USUALLY A 55 MEMBER BAND. AND, AND TO COME OUT AND PLAY WITH 12, 13 PIECES IS QUITE REMARKABLE FOR THESE GUYS TO COME OUT AND PLAY WITH. BUT WE LOVE IT. WE LOVE IT. AND, UH, I HOPE Y'ALL ENJOY IT ALSO. SO, UM, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO PLAY THE ARMED FORCES SALUTE. AND IF ANYBODY IS, PLEASE STAND FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU WERE, UH, IF YOU SERVED IN THE SERVICE MILITARY, PLEASE STAND AND BE HONORED WHEN WE PLAY YOUR SONG. THE ARMED FORCES SALUTE [00:20:01] 1, 2 2. PART OF OUR HISTORY. HUH? OKAY. PART OF OUR HISTORY IS, UH, A BAND DIRECTOR THAT WE HAD FRANK ROSADA FOR OVER 30 YEARS. AND NOT ONLY WAS HE A GREAT BAND DIRECTOR FOR US, HE ALSO SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE RESERVE BAND OUT OF NEW ORLEANS WHEN THEY GOT CALLED UP DURING WORLD WAR II. SO HE BROUGHT THE BAND FROM NEW ORLEANS OVER TO EUROPE AND THEY PLAYED ALL OVER EUROPE, USOS CLUBS AND TRYING TO GET THE MORALE UP AND PLAYING FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT MILITARY FUNCTIONS. BUT THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED, AND WE HONOR HIM A LOT BECAUSE [00:25:02] FRANK ROSADO WAS THE BAND DIRECTOR OF THE BAND AT POTSDAM WHEN THEY SIGNED A TREATY TO END WORLD WAR II. SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HIM FOR NOT ONLY BEING OUR CONDUCTOR, BUT HIS HISTORY ALSO WITH THE ALL FORCES. SO, UH, THANK FRANK. NOW WE'RE GONNA PLAY A SONG, UH, NATIONAL EMBLEM. 1 2 1 2, 1 2, 1 2. [00:42:04] THANK [00:42:04] YOU [00:42:05] ALL VERY MUCH AND I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT VETERANS DAY. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WE'LL ACTUALLY CLOSE OUT WITH A CLOSING PRAYER. WE HAVE THE HEAD PASTOR, UM, OF RIVER CHURCH AND HARVEY, PASTOR ROBERT STORY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE YOU'VE ALL HAD A GREAT TIME TODAY. I'M A SON OF A VETERAN. MY DAD WAS A WORLD WAR II FIGHTER PILOT. HE FLEW P 50 ONES. AND, UH, THEY HAD A, A, A LOT OF STORIES TO TELL, BUT IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO HONOR OUR VETERANS. AND, UM, AND SO WE REMEMBER THAT GENERATION AS WELL, THE WORLD WAR II GENERATION OF MY DAD AND, AND PASTOR KATHY'S DAD. AND WE HONOR YOU GUYS THAT ARE HERE. SO FATHER, WE THANK YOU, UH, LORD, THAT WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE THESE MEN AND WOMEN FOUGHT AND, AND PAID THE PRICE FOR THAT FREEDOM AND PROTECTED THOSE FREEDOMS. SO, LORD, I PRAY FOR OUR VETERANS ALL THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, THROUGHOUT OUR NATION WHO HAVE SERVED AND, UH, MADE THIS COUNTRY WHAT IT IS. GOD, I'LL PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL SERVING, THAT YOU'D PROTECT AND GUIDE THEM AS THEY PROTECT OUR LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS. AND SO, GOD, I PRAY FOR EACH ONE HERE TODAY AS THEY ENJOY THIS WEEKEND. AND, UH, LET US ALL REMEMBER YOU, LORD, AND WE PRAY ALL THESE THINGS IN JESUS' NAME. EVERYBODY SAID TOGETHER. AMEN. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT VETERAN'S DAY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.