Harlan Kirgan
They did not go to the LSU game on Saturday. They did not go hunting or fishing.
Instead scores of people headed to VFW Post 8971 to observe Veterans Day.
Speakers reminded the faithful about the legacy of freedom handed down by veterans.
St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz and Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot were among the speakers at the ceremony held at 11 a.m., the time when the World War I armistice began on Nov. 11, 1918.
Guidroz said, “We are here today to honor our heroes, their achievements, their courage and dedication and to say ‘thank you’ for their service.”
Service members come from all walks of life, he said, “but they share several fundamental qualities. They possess courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity. All of the qualities needed to serve a cause larger than one’s self.”
Veterans did not go to war because they enjoyed fighting, he said. “They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times.”
Armistice Day, held to celebrate the end of World War I, evolved into Veterans Day after World War II and the Korean War II.
“Today, people throughout the country will gather to remember and honor and to pay gratitude to those who have served the country,” he said.
“It is not a lot, but it is one small way we can honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in freedom as we do,” Guidroz said.
Fontenot said the ceremony “is a heart felt thanks to veterans...”
Fontenot said, “... because of you and what you fought for and what you stand for I’m able to say the things I’m going to say today.”
The Constitution and Bill of Rights are the result of veterans, he said.
“There are some people that like to take a knee whenever the national anthem is sung. I think that is good thing because of you, the veterans, those people are able to do that. We may not like it. We may not agree with it, but that is their right, Fontenot said.
“For those people who take a knee all I can think of is that whenever we go before God we take a knee. We take a knee in reverence. I’m hoping when they take that knee it is in reverence to our flag and what it stands for. Things that you have fought for. If that is not why they are taking that knee, they are a little mixed up in why they should be on their knees. You get on your knees in reverence,” Fontenot said.
Eunice Alderman Marion “Nootsie” Sattler thanks the veterans and said, “You are the good people who have sacrificed.”
State Rep. Phillip DeVillier donated an American, state and POW-MIA flag to the VFW post.
“Today, America needs to stand for those who sacrificed so much for us to enjoy the freedoms we have,” he said.
Donald Estillette, who serves as the post chaplain, said, “Why do we have freedom? Turn around and look at these guys next to you. Shake their hand. They are called veterans. Shake their hands. That’s why we have freedom over here.”