Visit by Gov. Bobby Jindal highlights busy Independence Day celebration in Bogalusa

With Gov. Bobby Jindal scheduled to ride in Monday's Independence Day parade, Bogalusans are set to celebrate the city's 97th and America's 235th birthday in grand fashion.

Following the first official appearance of Paper Queen Karlie Wheat on Saturday night at the Paper Queen Ball, activities slowed on Sunday as a mid-afternoon thunderstorm washed away the dust and dropped the temperature several degrees.

      (More July 4 activities in Cassidy Park, see related story)

Now, as time winds down until the start of the day, all that's left to do is cook out, shoot fireworks and get ready for Monday.

Things get started early Monday as volunteers gather at Magic City American Legion Post 24 to go over the final set of details and cover the check list once more.

Then, at about 8 a.m., the lining up entries in the parade will begin at the corner of Sixth and Columbia in preparation for the scheduled 10 a.m. start.

Coast Guard Capt. Jim Montgomery said this year's parade carries a dual theme — "Citizen Soldiers" and "Protect What Matters" — in honor of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Louisiana Air National Guard.

And as part of that recognition, Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreau, Adjutant General of the Louisiana Army National Guard, and Lt. Gen. Brod B. Veillon, commander of the Louisiana Air National Guard, will join the Governor in the parade.

In addition, at least one band — a 46-member military unit — is scheduled to participate.

As the parade heads north on Columbia Street, a pair of McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagles are scheduled to complete a low-altitude, high speed flyover at 10:30

The parade will head north on Columbia, cross Bogue Lusa Creek and continue on Richmond before turning left on Carolina Avenue at Zellco. The parade will cross Louisiana and continue west on Carolina, then Superior Avenue before turning south on Cumberland. Participants will continue south, crossing Bogue Lusa Creek again and continuing on Avenue B before turning west on West 9th, north on Avenue F and finally, right on Willis Avenue before disbanding at the Bogalusa High School Parking lot.








, Maj. Gen, Bennett C, Landreau, Adjutant General of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Lt. Gen. Brod Veillon, Commander of the Air National Guard, have committed to participate in the parade. In addition, an Army Band, numerous local floats and a flyover event are also scheduled.




It's Friday, and the July 4 weekend — when we celebrate Bogalusa's 97th birthday and the 235th for the United States of America.

When you think watermelon around these parts, it's Washington Parish melons, and some of the best are grown by local attorney John Gallaspy and longtime educator Mickey Murphy.

Late Thursday afternoon, Gallaspy went to his five-acre melon patch and gathered two pickup loads to take to Travis' Supermarket so customers could have a fresh, local melon for the weekend.

Gallaspy is growing at least three varieties this year, including one called "Desert Storm," which has a sort of sage green, dusty color to it.

"Obviously," he said, standing by the bed of one of the trucks, "that one came out after the first Iraqi war."

There are folks selling watermelons on almost every street corner, parking lot and wide spot by the side of the road. In Covington on Thursday, heading out on Highway 25 towards Franklinton, one vendor had a "special" on Washington Parish melons — two for $20.

A word of advice ... stay close to home, pay much less and you've got a greater chance of actually getting a Washington Parish melon.

With 725 acres and a cash value of nearly $1 million, Washington Parish is among the state's four top melon producing parishes.

Along with the melons, there are picnics and beauty pageants — like Saturday night's Paper Queen Ball and Coronation at American Legion Magic City Post No. 24.

Queen Karlie Wheat will make her first public appearance at the ball, then will turn right around and participate in Monday's July 4th Independence and Birthday Parade through Bogalusa.

On Monday, lining up for the parade will begin about 8 a.m. near the corner of 6th and Columbia,  with a 10 a.m. scheduled start.

Capt. Jim Montgomery, U.S. Coast Guard, said the parade carries a dual theme this year — “Citizen Soldiers” and “Protect What Matters” in honor of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Louisiana Air National Guard.

Governor Bobby Jindal, along with Maj. Gen, Bennett C, Landreau, Adjutant General of the Army National Guard and Lt. Gen. Brod Veillon, Commander of the Air National Guard, have committed to participate in the parade. In addition, an Army Band, numerous local floats and a flyover event are also scheduled.

After the parade there will be a brief break before activities get under way at Cassidy Park at 2 p.m.

In a revival of one of the greatest traditions of political campaigning in the South, all candidates for public office are invited to take the stage at the park and greet and talk with the public

The park will also feature food vendors, music and a first-ever bike parade.  Kids of all ages are invited to decorate their bicycles and parade along the new, asphalt track at 3 p.m.  The entry fee for the bike parade is a donation of a perishable food item, which will be given to the Bogalusa Help Center.

Following the activities at Cassidy Park there will be another break until dark, when the sky will be lit up by the explosions of fireworks launched from the Temple-Inland pond. The Bogalusa City Schools will open Lewis V. Murray, Jr. Stadium so that persons may view the fireworks in an open-air setting.

Community honors fallen heroes

Bugler Gary Rushing
of Magic City Post 24
plays "Taps."
(Photo by John H. Walker)

More than 200 people, a larger than normal audience, gathered at the new Veterans Plot at Ponemah Cemetery Monday to honor America's fallen at Bogalusa's annual Memorial Day observance.


The program, as always, was hosted by American Legion Magic City Post 24 and included participation from Boy Scout Troop 86 and the Bogalusa High School JROTC Honor Guard.


Following the official welcome, delivered by Mayor Charles Mizell, keynote speaker Dr. Dennis LaRavia shared stories or heroism with the audience ... from World War I, World War II and Afghanistan ... and how the soldiers, sailors and Marines cited all shared a faith in God and belief in Him to help them survive the horrors of war.

Hon. John Gallaspy recites
"In Flanders Fields" for 40th year.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

And for what he estimated as the 40th year, Hon. John Gallaspy recited "In Flanders fields." Canadian physician and Lt. Col. John McCrae is popularly believed to have written it on May 3, 1915 after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lt. Alexis Helmer, 22, the day before.


The poppies referred to in the poem grew in profusion in Flanders in the disturbed earth of the battlefields and cemeteries where war casualties were buried and thus became a symbol of Remembrance Day — the predecessor of Memorial Day.


Prior to Mr. Gallaspy's recitation, Girl Scouts placed poppies on the graves in the Veterans Plot.

Some of the veterans in attendance at Monday's
Memorial Day observance at Ponemah Cemetery.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

Placing poppies on graves.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

Among those in attendance were a number of veterans, including Norma Paige Jenkins, who was an Army nurse in the Pacific Theatre.


"We worked in the evacuation arena,” she told wpnewsblog. "We saw the worst of the worst."


She said she remembered Aug. 6, 1945, when the Japanese city of Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb.


"We knew when we heard the bomb had been dropped that we would be coming home," she said. "I wondered how we could be so happy (at the news of so many deaths), but we were ... we were going home!"


(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)