On Saturday, November 6th, citizens from all over Washington Parish came out to support the creation of Our Veterans Memorial Park. The property is on Highway 10 and Dollar Road, between Bogalusa and Franklinton. LSU has agreed to a 30 year lease on this property to allow the creation of this Park.
The activities began on Saturday with a Run for our Veterans, a 5K run/walk, with about 20 participants. Local corporate sponsors for the Run were Cargill, Magee Financial, Goings Realty Group and Washington-St. Tammany Electric Co-Op. Robbie Brown oversaw the run and the runners, walkers and those watching all enjoyed the morning.
Supporters of the event were International Paper, Parish Councilman Carly and Ashley King, Colonel Joey Strickland, Danny Stewart, Sheriff Randy Seal, Good Samaritans Nursing Home and the Knights of Columbus Father LeBlanc 2245 Council. In-kind donations were received from Senator Beth Mizell and Jack Brown's Food Store.
Throughout the day various school and church groups provided patriotic and uplifting music to honor our veterans.John Gallaspy, well-known and beloved citizen of Washington Parish, recited In Flanders Field to those gathered. The groups that participated were Pine High School, Franklinton Demonaires, ROTC and Franklinton High School Band, Ben's Ford Youth Choir, Bowling Green Elementary Choir, First Baptist Church music team and the Bogalusa High School Choir. Many thanks to those groups, the parents and families who attended, and all the Washington Parish citizens who came out to support the effort. Volunteers worked all day to make it a success.chased by the Magic City American Legion Post to honor Hulon Whittington, a Washington Parish native who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. The 40 & 8 purchased the second brick for the Terrell brothers, LC and Ubert, who are well known in our parish for their service in World War II and are local heroes. The Wreaths Across America program's local chapter purchased a brick to honor Col. Bobby Miller, a local hero who served in 3 wars.
Memorial bricks are available to be ordered at $150 each, $250 for 2 or $350 for 3. Also, folks may purchase T-shirts for $20 to show their support of the effort to create this Park. Call 839-3936, or you can email OurVeteransMemorialPark@gmail.com, go by 1051 Main St., Franklinton (Senator Mizell's office) or contact any Our Veterans Memorial Park committee member. They include: Joey Roberts, Phillipp Bedwell, Tammy Magruder, Joannie Miller, Lynette Sharp, or Beth Mizell.
