* 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.
          [Harahan Park of Heroes Dedication]
          [00:00:06]
          REMEMBER, WITH DEEP GRATITUDE, THE SONS OF HARAHAN, SAILORS, SOLDIERS, AIRMEN AND MARINES, WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF LIBERTY. 
          FROM THE FIELDS OF FRANCE TO THE FROZEN HILLS OF KOREA, FROM THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM TO DESERTS OF IRAQ, THEY BORE THE WEIGHT OF DUTY AND THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM. 
          THIS PARK STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE BRAVERY AND SACRIFICES OF THE COURAGEOUS LOUISIANANS WHO HAVE DEFENDED OUR FREEDOMS, FIGHTING ALONGSIDE AMERICA'S ALLIES IN THE NAME OF OUR SHARED VALUES. 
          AS WE DEDICATE THIS PARK, WE HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE 16 SERVICEMEN FROM AHAN WHO DISPLAYED COURAGE AND DEFENDED FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY. 
          THIS PARK STANDS AS A PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE, BUT IT'S ALSO OF REVERENCE. 
          IT HONORS THOSE WHO COMMIT TO THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. 
          LET THIS PARK BE A PLACE WHERE IN THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO SERVE, LIVE ON NOT JUST IN MEMORY, BUT IN THE DAILY LIVES OF THE COMMUNITY. 
          MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER, AND WE MAY, WE ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO, TO BE ABLE TO CUT THE RIBBON ON THIS PARK AND TO SEE A DREAM COME THROUGH. 
          IT'S JUST, IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLE, UH, FEELING. 
          UH, GOT THE GOOSEBUMPS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. 
          I WANT TO THANK OUR CONSTABLE GENERALS WHO'VE COME FROM FAR TO HONOR THESE 16 HEROES. 
          THIS SPACE IS NOT ONLY A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY JOY, FOR THE FAMILIES TO RECOGNIZE THEIR LOVED ONES WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE OF FREEDOM. 
          THE VALUE IS IMMEASURABLE. 
          EVEN LOOKING BACK ON MY OWN LIFE NOW, I THINK ABOUT GRANDFATHERS, UNCLES, COUSINS, OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO WORE MILITARY UNIFORMS, AND I REALIZE I PROBABLY DIDN'T SAY THANK YOU AS OFTEN OR AS SINCERELY AS US SHOULD. 
          THEY LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR ALL OF US. 
          THEY LEFT A LEGACY OF SERVICE TO THEIR NATION AND A SERVICE TO ALL OF US. 
          REMEMBER, THEY ARE, THEY ARE US. 
          THEY ARE THE CITIZENS OF HARAHAN. 
          THEY LIVED IN HOUSES THAT STILL STAND. 
          SOME OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE NO IDEA OF THE SACRIFICE THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVED IN THAT HOUSE 80 YEARS AGO HAD, BUT THEY GREW UP RIGHT HERE. 
          I THINK THIS IS GONNA OPEN THE EYES FOR A LOT OF OUR KIDS AND OUR GRANDKIDS. 
          NOW YOU THINK, I THINK YOU THINK, DEFINITELY THINK, I THINK SO TOO. 
          THIS WILL BE GREAT TO, FOR ALL OF THEM, TO LEARN ABOUT, ABOUT THESE GUYS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES.
* 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.