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MY NAME IS MATT BAILEY, AND IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE THE MC THIS YEAR FOR THE VETERANS DAY CEREMONY HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE ON THIS SIGNIFICANT DAY TO HONOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES AND TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR PATRIOTISM, COURAGE, AND SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY, OUR COUNTRY.
WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE HERE WITH US THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE COLOR GUARD FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS.
AFTER THAT, WE'LL HAVE THE, AFTER THE COLOR GUARD, WE'LL HAVE FIRE CHIEF CHARLES HUDSON, WHO WILL CONDUCT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
THE INVOCATION WILL BE DELIVERED BY PASTOR ROBERT, BY, I'M SORRY, BY REVEREND KATHY RADKEY STORY.
AND FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL HEAR FROM, UH, JEFFERSON PARISH ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH SPECIAL REMARKS.
OUR GUEST SPEAKER TODAY IS GABBY SWANSON, COMMANDER OF THE NOLA VFW, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, POST 89 73 AND FOLLOWED.
FOLLOWING THAT, OUR BENEDICTION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR ROBERT STORY, THE MUSIC THAT WE'LL, THAT WE WILL ENJOY THROUGHOUT THE CEREMONY.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE ONCE AGAIN WITH US, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3, 7 7 BAND.
WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE ALL OF THESE GUESTS AND ALL OF YOU WITH US TODAY FOR THE VETERAN'S DAY CEREMONY.
AND WITH THIS, LET'S PLEASE STAND TOGETHER FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTINE JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I FEEL LIKE I'M FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH HIS LEGACY.
AND UH, AND ACTUALLY WHEN I LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE STORIES HE TOLD, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE THAT I'M HERE.
AND IT WAS IN A ARMY HOSPITAL.
MY DAD WAS ACTUALLY DYING, AND THE DOCTOR CALLED MY GRANDMOTHER, THEY'D FLOWN HER OUT FROM TEXAS.
AND, UH, MY DAD HAD BEEN RUNNING FROM THE CALL OF GOD.
BUT IT WAS THAT NIGHT WHEN HE HEARD THE DOCTOR TELL HIS MOTHER HE WOULD NOT LIVE THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT HE TURNED HIS FACE TO THE WALL AND FINALLY SURRENDERED
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HIS LIFE TO GOD.AND I'M SO PROUD TO CARRY ON HIS LEGACY.
I AM THE HEAD CHAPLAIN FOR THE SHERIFF OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAINS, WE HAVE PRISON CHAPLAINS, AND THEY, UH, SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
LET'S BOW OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND LET'S OFFER UP THANKS TO GOD.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS OF LIFE AND FOR THIS GREAT NATION IN WHICH WE LIVE.
YOUR WORD SAYS, BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.
AND TODAY WE PRAY A SPECIAL BLESSING OVER OUR VETERANS.
FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR NATION IN UNIFORM, WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR COURAGE, THEIR SACRIFICE, AND THEN THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO DEFEND FREEDOM AND PROTECT OUR PEACE.
THOSE WHO STAND AMONG US TODAY, AND THOSE WHO REST IN YOUR ETERNAL CARE, MAY THEY KNOW THE DEEP APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL PEOPLE AND THE COMFORT OF YOUR PRESENCE.
FOR THOSE STILL HEALING FROM WOUNDS SEEN AND UNSEEN, WE ASK FOR YOUR PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, RESTORE THEIR STRENGTH, CALM THEIR HEARTS, AND SURROUND THEM WITH LOVE AND SUPPORT.
WE LIFT UP THE FAMILIES OF VETERANS, SPOUSES, CHILDREN AND LOVED ONES WHO HAVE SHARED IN THE SACRIFICE, REWARD THEIR FAITHFULNESS WITH YOUR ABUNDANT LOVE AND GRACE.
FATHER, TEACH US AS A NATION TO HONOR OUR VETERANS, NOT JUST WITH WORDS, BUT WITH ACTIONS BY CARING FOR THEM, STANDING BY THEM, AND STRIVING TO BE A PEOPLE WORTHY OF THEIR SERVICE.
AND ABOVE ALL, LET US REMEMBER THE TRUE PEACE THAT COMES FROM YOU.
LET US SEEK TO BE PEACEMAKERS IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES.
LET US FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS OUR PRINCE OF PEACE.
WE PRAY ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME, AMEN.
OUR VETERANS ARE NOTHING SHORT OF HEROIC.
TO WILLINGLY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY IS NOT JUST COURAGEOUS, IT'S NOBLE.
AND FOR THAT, WE MUST FULFILL OUR NATIONAL PROMISE AND SACRED OBLIGATION TO STAND TOGETHER WITH ALL VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, TO HONOR THEM BY HOW WE LIVE, BY HOW WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, BY HOW WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN OF THEIR SACRIFICE, SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THEIR SPIRITS AND LEGACY ALIVE.
WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH US TODAY, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO INVITE THEM TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
I'LL INTRODUCE EACH ONE AND THEN THEY'LL EACH COME UP.
COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER VAN RANKIN AT LARGE DIVISION A.
WE ALSO HAVE COUNCILMAN DINO BONANO, UH, DISTRICT TWO, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ARITA BOHANNAN, DISTRICT FOUR, AND COUNCILMAN HANS BERG, DISTRICT FIVE.
SO PASTOR RADKEY, I'M GONNA STEAL YOUR, UM, WAY OF INTRODUCING YOURSELF AS THE DAUGHTER OF A VETERAN BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHY, UM, I'M HERE BECAUSE IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE HAD A DAD WHO HAS THOSE VALUES THAT WE KNOW OUR MILITARY HAS.
UM, IF YOU KNOW MY DAD, YOU KNOW, HE LOVES TO USE BABY AND PAD.
THAT'S ALMOST IN EVERY SENTENCE.
HE, UH, HE SAYS, SO HE SAID, BABY, HE LOVES RONALD REAGAN.
HE SAID HE NEVER TOOK HIS JACKET AND TIE OFF IN THE OVAL OFFICE.
IT'S A RESPECT, IT'S THAT KIND OF HONOR FOR THINGS THAT ARE THE UNDERPINNING OF OUR COUNTRY.
AND IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING I LEARNED FROM HIM.
SO WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING, I'LL SIMPLY LEAVE YOU WITH A QUOTE FROM RONALD REAGAN THAT I THINK SUMS UP PART OF WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
SOME PEOPLE LIVE AN ENTIRE LIFETIME AND WONDER IF THEY'VE EVER MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
A VETERAN DOESN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
THANK YOU FOR THE DIFFERENCE YOU MADE.
FIRST OF ALL, I COME HERE TODAY TO HONOR MY GRANDFATHER, CORPORAL LESTER.
MY GRANDFATHER LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH JUNE 6TH, 1944.
AND ALTHOUGH WOUNDED TWICE, HE SURVIVED ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE END OF THE WAR.
OR I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK MY GRANDFATHER, BUT THE REASON WE ARE STANDING HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICES OF ALL OF OUR VETERANS ABOUT THIS GREAT NATION'S HISTORY.
AND I WANNA THANK THEM, HONOR ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR SACRIFICE, AND PLEASE THINK OF OUR VETERANS EACH AND EVERY DAY, AS YOU SAY YOUR DAILY PRAYERS.
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GOOD MORNING.UM, I'M BARTA BOHANNON AND I, TOO AM THE DAUGHTER OF A SOLDIER.
UM, MY DAD SERVED 24 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY SERGEANT FIRST CLASS PETER THOMAS LIPS.
SO, UM, I THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE, JUST LIKE I THANK YOU FOR YOURS.
AND IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE TODAY, IT SHOULD BE EVERY DAY.
UM, BUT A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO ARE MARRIED TO A SOLDIER.
IT IS A SACRIFICE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, NOT JUST THE SOLDIER HIMSELF.
THOSE CERTAINLY HIS IS THE HIGHEST RISK.
BUT EVERY DAY I WOULD WATCH MY MOM SPIT, SHINED MY DAD'S BOOTS, HAVE HIM READY AND SET OUT IN THE MORNING HIS, HIS UNIFORM PRESS READY TO GO.
UM, IT WAS A TEAM AND HER WORK ALLOWED HIM TO DO HIS WORK.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE SHOULD CELEBRATE VETERANS EVERY DAY.
I'M THE COUNCILMAN OF DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, I THINK GOING LAST IS PROBABLY THE WORST BECAUSE, UH, EVERYTHING HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.
UM, I AM THE, THE SON OF A, OF A, OF A NAVY VETERAN.
I'M VERY PROUD OF HIS SERVICE.
I HAVE, UH, NEPHEWS AND NIECES AND ACTIVE DUTY.
UM, MY, MY NEPHEW WENT TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY, UM, AS A TOP GUN PILOT, AND HE'S STATIONED RIGHT HERE AND, AND, UH, AND MET.
IF YOU ASK HIM, HE'LL TELL YOU THAT THE, THE NAVAL ACADEMY AND, AND, AND BOOTCAMP WAS NOTHING 'CAUSE YOU HAVEN'T MET MY SISTER.
UM, BUT, BUT I WOULD ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN BOHAN.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I THINK WE CAN LEAVE TODAY WITH IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE VETERAN'S DAY, BUT REALLY EVERY DAY SHOULD BE VETERANS DAY.
UH, WE SHOULD THANK OUR VETERANS AND JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE.
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS, IS A RESULT OF THE SACRIFICE OF OUR VETERANS.
THANK YOU ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LET'S GIVE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER TODAY, AND RIGHT AFTER SHE SPEAKS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE ARMED FORCES SALUTE, UH, PLAYED BY THE AMERICAN LEGION BAND.
AND SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THE ARMED FORCES SALUTE THAT YOU STAND, STAND TALL AND STAND PROUD WHENEVER YOUR SERVICE SONG IS PLAYED.
OUR GUEST SPEAKER TODAY IS GABBY SWANSON.
SHE'S A UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN AND CURRENTLY SERVES IN THE NAVY RESERVES.
SHE JOINED THE MARINE CORPS AND SHE, SHE JOINED THE MARINE CORPS IN 2004.
AND AFTER INITIAL AND OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING DEPLOYED TO THE ALLAN BAR PRO PROVINCE IN IRAQ IN 2005, GABBY LA LATER SERVED AS THE BASE PROVOST MARSHALL OFFICE ABOARD CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA.
SHE LEFT ACTIVE DUTY IN 2009, BUT HAS BEEN SUPPORTING HER MARINE CORPS SPOUSE THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER.
SHE'S HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CAREERS AND IS CURRENTLY AN IT PROJECT MANAGER.
JUST EARLIER THIS YEAR, GABBY JOINED THE, THE NAVY RESERVE AND CURRENTLY SERVES IN GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME GABBY SWANSON.
GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HERE WITH EVERYONE.
UM, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TALKING WITH YOU TODAY AND JUST HEARING THE SUPPORT FROM CHAPLAIN AND FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT JUST MEANS THE WORLD TO ME AND TO OTHER VETERANS.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT OF VETERANS.
UM, AS I PREPARED FOR TODAY, I TALKED WITH SEVERAL NON-VETERAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO SEE WHAT THEY THINK, WHAT A VETERAN IS, AND I GOT THE USUAL ANSWERS.
WE HEARD SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THEM, SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED, SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE, SOMEONE WHO'S A HERO.
AND IT'S ALWAYS VERY EXCITING TO HEAR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND THEN I ASKED MY FRIENDS AT MY VFW POST, WHAT IS A VETERAN TO YOU? AND OVERWHELMINGLY THE ANSWER WAS SOMEONE WHO HAS INEVITABLY SLEPT WITH THEIR BOOTS AS THEIR PILLOW.
SO, UM, SOMEONE UH, ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY'D LIKE ME TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S SOMEONE WHO'S GOTTEN CREATIVE WITH THEIR HEAD CALLS OR IF YOU'RE IN THE ARMY, THE LATRINE CALL, UM, FOR, FOR ARMY AND SPACE FORCE TYPES.
SPEAKING OF WHICH, DO WE HAVE ANY SOLDIERS IN THE HOUSE? ANY SOLDIERS? ALL RIGHT.
UH, WHO AIR FORCE DO WE HAVE ANY AIR FORCE IN THE HOUSE? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HOW ABOUT SPACE FORCE? DO WE HAVE ANY SPACE FORCE YET? SOMEDAY.
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UM, NAVY, OH YEAH, SHIPMATES AND THEN MARINE CORPS.AM I THE ONLY ONE? ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'LL BE SAN FIVE FOR ALL OF US, I SUPPOSE.
ALRIGHT, SO EACH OF OUR SERVICES, AS YOU KNOW, IS WILDLY DIFFERENT.
WE SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, WE WEAR DIFFERENT UNIFORMS. WE HAVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CUSTOMS AND MISSION GOALS, BUT HERE WE ARE TOGETHER CELEBRATING, BEING HERE, THANKFUL TO BE HERE, SEEING ANOTHER SUNRISE THROUGH THIS LOVELY SKY ROOF WITH PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT AND HOW AWESOME OF AN OPPORTUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY IS.
OUR MILITARY IS TRULY A REFLECTION OF WHAT'S BEST IN OUR COUNTRY.
MY FIRST UNIT HAD ME, THE TOKEN PERSON FROM TEXAS.
UM, OUR PLATOON COMMANDER, I MEAN, OUR PLATOON SERGEANT WAS FROM DENVER.
OUR COMPANY GUNNY WAS FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
OUR COMPANY COMMANDER WAS FROM WASHINGTON STATE.
AND, UH, WE HAD A GUY FROM LOUISIANA WHO WAS A PRETTY AWESOME FELLA.
I'D NEVER MET A LOUISIANAN BEFORE AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET TO KNOW HIM, BUT HE WAS AWESOME.
AND THEN FINALLY, ROUNDING OUT THE, THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WAS SOMEONE FROM PUERTO RICO.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THOUGH, WE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENCES, SO MANY SHOCKS TO CULTURE AND JUST DICTION AND LANGUAGE.
WE GOT OUR JOB DONE RIGHT? OUR JOB AS MILITARY POLICE WAS TO PROVIDE SECURITY AND CONVOY PATROLS, UM, ON THE STREETS OF LUMBAR IN IRAQ.
AND IT WAS AN ADVENTURE OF SORTS.
UM, BUT WE DIDN'T CARE WHERE WE WERE FROM.
WE CARED WHO WE ARE AT THE TIME, WHAT WE WERE DOING, DID WE DO OUR JOB? AND I DARE SAY THAT EVERYONE IN EVERY SINGLE MILITARY UNIT BEFORE ME AND AFTER ME IS THE SAME.
WE ALL HAVE A JOB AND WE'RE ALL GETTING IT DONE TO TOGETHER.
WE TRAIN TOGETHER, WE EAT TOGETHER, WE DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION.
IT IS SO AMAZING TO SEE SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE DOING ONE THING TOGETHER AND DOING IT EXCELLENTLY.
SO IT WAS AN AWESOME, AWESOME EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
AS I LOOK OUT HERE, I SEE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.
FOR ME, THE VFW, OUR MOTTO IS NOBODY DOES MORE FOR VETERANS.
I SEE AMERICAN LEGION, YOUR BAND, YOU ARE AMAZING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND PROVIDING SUPPORT.
UM, THE AMERICAN LEGION IN, UH, LAKESIDE IS GOING TO BE HOSTING THE VETERAN'S DAY PARADE TOMORROW.
STILL SERVING THE FLEET, UH, RESERVE ASSOCIATION, THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE, ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS FULL OF VETERANS STILL WANTING TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, COMING TOGETHER TO BE OF SERVICE.
IT IS AN AWESOME, AWESOME THING.
UM, TOGETHER WE CAN GET SO MUCH DONE.
AND TO FLIP THIS ON ITS HEAD A LITTLE BIT, I KNOW VETERANS DAYS THE DAY TO SAY THANK YOU TO VETERANS.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
I COULD NOT DO THE THINGS THAT I DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME AND WHO HAVE LOVED ME.
SO ANYONE WHO'S A FAMILY MEMBER OF A VETERAN OR MARRIED TO A VETERAN, SHOW OF HANDS.
IT'S NOT EASY, IS IT? UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR VETERAN WAS ACTIVE DUTY, YOU HAD SO MANY UNKNOWNS TO DEAL WITH.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE HOME IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS, A BIRTHDAY, OUR ANNIVERSARY? AND WHAT WAS THE ANSWER? MAYBE, OR I DON'T KNOW, RIGHT? THE RESOUNDING ANSWER.
IN THE MARINE CORPS WE SAY SEM GUMBY.
UM, AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU FAMILY MEMBERS, THANK YOU SPOUSES FOR PUTTING UP WITH IT.
AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR FAMILY AND OUR SPOUSES, FRIENDS OF VETERANS.
DO WE HAVE FRIENDS OF VETERANS IN THE HOUSE? AWESOME, THANK YOU.
BECAUSE VETERANS ARE AN INTERESTING BAG OF PEOPLE.
UM, WE COME IN ALL KINDS OF FLAVORS, RIGHT? AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE FLAGS BEHIND ME.
AND SOMETIMES WE JUST DON'T MAKE SENSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE JUST SEPARATING FROM THE MILITARY.
WE'RE COMING OUT TALKING IN ACRONYMS THAT YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE, YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, AND YOU MAY NOT WANT TO STOP US TO GET CLARIFICATION FOR.
SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH US IN OUR LITTLE FOIBLES AS WE ADJUST FROM GOING FULL CORE MILITARY TO BEING CIVILIAN AGAIN.
UM, I DID HAVE SOMEBODY WHEN I FIRST LEFT THE SERVICE SAY, YOU SEEM REAL NICE,
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BUT YOU DON'T REALLY COMMUNICATE VERY WELL.I SAID, REALLY? SHE SAID, YEAH, YOU SPEAK SOME FORM OF ENGLISH THAT NOBODY EVER TAUGHT ME.
I SAID, OKAY, I WILL WORK ON THAT
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS OF VETERANS.
ANYONE WHO'S STILL SERVING, ANYONE STILL ACTIVE OR OBSERVE NATIONAL GUARD, WELL, ANYONE WHO MAY BE WATCHING, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR KEEPING ONGOING.
IT IS A UNIQUE NIGHT LIFE FULL OF UNKNOWNS.
UM, WHEN HUMANITY AT ITS CORE PREFERS THE KNOWN, RIGHT? AND, AND SO ANYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO DO THIS AND KEEP DOING THIS, HATS OFF TO YOU.
UM, I'M THANKFUL TO EVERYBODY WHO WENT BEFORE ME.
UH, I DON'T HAVE A HUGE PEDIGREE OF OF SERVICE BEFORE ME EXCEPT FOR MY GRANDFATHER WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II, PART OF THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGN AS A MARINE.
UM, AND, AND HE PRETTY MUCH TOLD ME, MILITARY, THAT'S INTERESTING.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING LIFE CHOICE,
I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, GRANDPA, YOU'RE PRETTY COOL.
SO MAYBE I'LL END UP PRETTY COOL TOO.
UM, BUT GOSH, WHAT A THING TO DO.
AND AT WHAT A TIME MAY WE ALL KNOW SOMEBODY WHO STANDS UP AT SUCH A TIME AND DOES WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
BEST WISHES TO YOU THIS VETERAN'S DAY, AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
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THAT WAS OUTSTANDING.AND COULD WE JUST HAVE ALL OF THE VETERANS WHO ARE HERE WITH US STAND UP ONE MORE TIME FOR RECOGNITION? THANK YOU SO MUCH HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY FAITH-BASED LEADERS FOR OUR CLOSING PRAYER, I WANT TO INVITE PASTOR ROBERT STORY.
I TOO AM A SON OF A AIR FORCE PILOT IN WORLD WAR II.
HE FLEW P 50 ONES OVER SOUTHERN ITALY AND THEN OVER GERMANY FOR THE PTE OIL FILL RAIDS THAT THEY DID.
AND, AND, UH, LISTENING TO SOME OF THE STORIES, IT IS PROBABLY LIKE MANY OF YOU A MIRACLE THAT WE ARE HERE.
SO I HONOR VETERANS, HAD UNCLES IN THE, IN THE MILITARY, HAD COUSINS IN THE MILITARY.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORD, FOR THIS GREAT NATION THAT WE LIVE IN.
LORD, I THANK YOU THAT MANY YEARS AGO YOU PUT ON THE HEARTS OF MEN AND WOMEN TO FORM OUR NATION THAT WE LOVE.
AND LORD, I'M THANKFUL TOO FOR THESE VETERANS, OUR MOTHERS, OUR FATHERS, OUR BROTHERS, OUR SISTERS, OUR SONS, OUR DAUGHTERS COUSINS LORD WHO SERVE BRAVELY IN OUR MILITARY TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY TODAY.
SO GOD, WE PRAY THAT WE HONOR THEM TODAY.
LORD, I PRAY AS OUR VETERANS WALK AROUND IN OUR, OUR SOCIETY TODAY, HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, ESPECIALLY, THAT WE WOULD HONOR THEM WHEN WE SEE THEM AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE BECAUSE OF THEM, GOD.
AND SO, LORD, I PRAY YOU'D BLESS THEM IN MANY WAYS, LORD, FOR THOSE WHO ARE SERVING, I PRAY FOR PROTECTION.
I PRAY SUPERNATURAL PROTECTION ON OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY WHO ARE PROTECTING OUR NATION AND OUR FREEDOMS AT THIS VERY MOMENT.
LORD, FOR THOSE ONCE AGAIN, UH, WHO HAVE COME BACK WITH WOUNDS, LORD, WHETHER IT'S MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD BRING HEALING INTO THEIR LIVES.
LET THEM GET THE BEST OF RESOURCES.
LORD, AS A NATION, DON'T LET US FORGET OUR VETERANS WHO STILL NEED US.
AND SO, LORD, WE JUST LIFT THESE PRAYERS UP TO YOU.
I LIFT UP OUR MEN AND WOMEN, UH, EVERY VETERAN GOD AND PRAY BLESSINGS IN THEIR LIVES.
ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE PARISH COUNCIL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN TODAY'S CEREMONY, THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE, COLOR GUARD, FIRE CHIEF CHARLES HUDSON, PASTOR ROBERT STORY COMMANDER GABBY SWANSON, REVEREND KATHY RADKEY STORY, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 7 7 BAND, AND OUR OWN JEFFERSON PARISH DEPARTMENTS, RECREATION, PARKWAYS, GENERAL SERVICES, AND OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE.
WE ALSO WANNA THANK LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER FOR HOSTING OUR EVENT HERE WHEN WE WEREN'T SURE WHETHER IT WAS GONNA RAIN OR NOT.
AS WE CONCLUDE THE CEREMONY, LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR GREAT SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY.
PLEASE STAY AND HELP YOURSELF TO REFRESHMENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.