SHREVEPORT, La. — Veterans across the Shreveport-Bossier region will be honored with a two-part Veterans Celebration, now in its 16th year: a ceremony in Bossier City on Friday, Nov. 13, and a parade through the fairgrounds in Shreveport on Sunday, Nov. 15.
The ceremony comes first, at 5 p.m. Friday inside Bossier City’s LIVE! Casino Event Center. Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré will deliver the keynote remarks, and the committee hopes the room fills with veterans, families and neighbors.
Two days later, at 2 p.m. Sunday, the parade takes place at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds. The grand marshal is a Ruston veteran whom officials recognize as the oldest World War II veteran still living in America. Born Sept. 27, 1919, he turned 107 in September and lives in Lincoln Parish. Local reports say he went into the Army on Dec. 12, 1942, handled ammunition in the Pacific for 26 months, and saw Australia, the Philippines, New Guinea and Japan before being discharged as a corporal on Dec. 6, 1945.
His age drew wider attention this fall. VFW Post 3615 in Lincoln Parish honored him on his birthday, the recognition reached Washington, and he was invited to the White House in late October.
The Veterans Celebration Committee puts on the weekend and is asking residents, local businesses, community groups and veterans organizations to turn out, both to recognize those who served and to support their families.
Veterans Day itself falls today, Wednesday, Nov. 11, and other tributes are planned around the region this week.
Filed under: Shreveport LA Neighborhood News