Bogalusa LDRC needs more business surveys turned in; Response rate at 67 percent to goal

Unless the survey fairy, first cousin to the tooth fairy, comes through, Bogalusa’s goal of at least 1,001 responses to the Louisiana Development Ready Communities survey will fall short.

Through Friday afternoon there were 542 completed surveys — 361 online from community members, 81 online from the business community and 100 paper surveys tallied by Southeastern University.

In addition, there were 129 partial online surveys for a total response of 671 — or 67 percent of the mayor’s goal of “one more than last year’s top respondent (DeRidder).”

Project Chair Sandy Bloom said the Bogalusa LDRC committee would like to have more business surveys.

“We really need and want that input,” she told wpnewsblog. “With the online availability of the surveys, they can be done at any time of the day or night.”

On Monday, the program entered the second stage when about 100 persons attended two Town Hall meetings at the Bogalusa Senior Center. Starting out as one large audience, the attendees were broken up into subgroups, where they listed the communities assets, drawbacks and, in a bit of wishful thinking, what they would change if given a magic wand and the opportunity to wave it over the city.

Bogalusa is one of eight communities selected to participate in this year’s program, which is funded by the state and essentially helps a community map its own plan for the future.

“This is an exciting time,” Bogalusa Mayor Chares Mizell said. “We have the opportunity to make a difference and to do things differently and take a new course. Not everyone … not every community … gets to do that, but we can. It just requires participation so that we might prepare, plan and execute.”

Links to both the community and business survey may be found at the top right column on this web page.

Renovation, expansion planned for Bogalusa's Cassidy Park

Calling it a lynchpin of the community, Bogalusa Mayor Charles Mizell on Monday afternoon announced a renovation and revitalization of Cassidy Park.

Cassidy Park's preliminary master plan

“It has had some great days and it has hard some not-so-great days,” Mizell told about 50 persons attending the first of two Town Hall meetings as part of the Louisiana Development Ready Communities program. “What you have in front of you is a plan we’ve had drawn up for the park.”

Mizell was referring to what was described as a master plan for the park — and the rendering prepared by Joseph Furr Design Studio in Baton Rouge included numerous changes.

“Things come and things go,” Mizell said. “We want to build a foundation for the future and we have to have something that will stand the test of time. This green space … in some way … has touched everyone who has ever been in Bogalusa.

“We’re going to start building this park. We have the plans drawn and we think we think we have something stand the test,” Mizell said. “We’ve found some money to start on this and we’re going to apply for grants and other funds.”

The Mayor said he feels the revitalized park will be a plus for the community — and cited some things already under way.

“We have two wonderful museums that are run and operated by volunteers who are committed to making this community a better place,” he said. “We just completed 3,800 feet of paved bike and walking trails … we have a full-time employee now in the park and we’ve cleaned up, picked up and painted up and we’re going to do more.”

In addition to those items cited, there are new barriers in place to limit areas where persons can drive vehicles and work is also being done on existing structures.

“I think this is one of the first things we need in the community … to give families a place to go, kids a place to play.”

That said, there are a number of proposed changes to the park, including a boulevard-type entrance with new signage. As one enters the park, there is a new location for the annual Yule Log burning and a relocated building to house park operations office and café.

To the left, going toward the covered bridge, the road is realigned and a new road splits off to the right to a parking area that affords parking for both museums. Near the Pioneer Museum is a playground while, just past that, is a new pavilion and restroom structure.

Major additions proposed for the park include several hundred yards of beaches all along Bogue Lusa Creek, a dog park where owners can allow their pets to run and play off-leash, an expanded pond with fishing pier, a new pond, an amphitheatre, a canoe launch area and a playground near one of the beaches. 

Community survey response slow, behind goal

The goal of “one more completed survery” than DeRidder, the city that had the best response to the 2010 Louisiana Development Ready Communities program with 1,000 responses is in trouble — which means the LDRC Bogalusa Committee goal of 1,400 completed surveys is really in trouble.

But it’s not too late.

     Community survey

     http://www.zoomerang.com/Surve​y/WEB22CNEDKKCLL/

     Business survey     http://www.zoomerang.com/Surve​y/WEB22CNEEXKDFF/

With a deadline of the end of the month, there are still two Sundays, along with church meetings during the week, when surveys can be distributed … and there are several locations with large groups of employees, such as LSU-Bogalusa Medical Center, Northshore Technical College, Temple-Inland and the Bogalusa City Schools.

Between those locations, a concerted effort can yield the necessary results. But, in trucker jargon, it’s time to put the pedal to the metal.

At 10 a.m. Friday, Bogalusa was at 40.5 percent to the DeRidder goal and 28.9 percent to the committee’s goal. If partially completed surveys are included in the count, the numbers improve to 51.1 percent and 36.5 percent, which is sad for a community where so many want to voice their opinions at gatherings, such as the city council.

Online, there were 275 completed and 76 partial community surveys and 70 completed and 30 partial business surveys. Additionally, there about 60 paper surveys completed.

But now, when that input is sought for utilization in the development of a meaningful plan, where are those people?

The program, despite being behind pace because of the lack of survey response, gains momentum on Monday when two Town Hall meetings are held at the Senior Center on Willis Avenue.

The meetings are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and will afford persons the opportunity to tell what they feel are the communities strengths, its weaknesses, what is holding it back and what they would change if they had a magic wand and could do any one thing.

Bogalusa is one of eight communities selected to participate in this year’s program, which is funded by the state and essentially helps a community map its own plan for the future.

“This is an exciting time,” Bogalusa Mayor Chares Mizell said. “We have the opportunity to make a difference and to do things differently and take a new course. Not everyone … not every community … gets to do that, but we can. It just requires participation so that we might prepare, plan and execute.”

Between those locations, a concerted effort can yield the necessary results. But, in trucker jargon, it’s time to put the pedal to the metal.

At 10 a.m. Friday, Bogalusa was at 40.5 percent to the DeRidder goal and 28.9 percent to the committee’s goal. If partially completed surveys are included in the count, the numbers improve to 51.1 percent and 36.5 percent, which is sad for a community where so many want to voice their opinions at gatherings, such as the city council.

Online, there were 275 completed and 76 partial community surveys and 70 completed and 30 partial business surveys. Additionally, there about 60 paper surveys completed.

But now, when that input is sought for utilization in the development of a meaningful plan, where are those people?

The program, despite being behind pace because of the lack of survey response, gains momentum on Monday when two Town Hall meetings are held at the Senior Center on Willis Avenue.

The meetings are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and will afford persons the opportunity to tell what they feel are the communities strengths, its weaknesses, what is holding it back and what they would change if they had a magic wand and could do any one thing.

Bogalusa is one of eight communities selected to participate in this year’s program, which is funded by the state and essentially helps a community map its own plan for the future.

“This is an exciting time,” Bogalusa Mayor Chares Mizell said. “We have the opportunity to make a difference and to do things differently and take a new course. Not everyone … not every community … gets to do that, but we can. It just requires participation so that we might prepare, plan and execute.”

Sitel's time in Bogalusa now down to hours

For the first time in more than a decade, Bogalusa will be without a customer service call center when the new work week gets under way.

Only 18 vehicles were in the Sitel parking lot late
Saturday morning. The company has announced
plans to close its Bogalusa operations on Monday,
although a skeleton crew of about 20 is expected
to work through July 25 to shutter the facility.
(Photo by John H. Walker) 

Earlier this year, officials for Nashville-based Sitel notified Washington Economic Development Foundation director Ryan Seal that it would cease operations in the Bogalusa Industrial Park on Monday, July 18.

At the time, Sitel employed 149 people — the majority in $8 to $9 per hour pay range. When the announcement was made, facility coordinator Chad Luikart said employees would be given the opportunity to transfer to other Sitel sites — the nearest being in Starkville, Miss.

Attempts to contact Luikart were unsuccessful and Human Resources Manager Jerry Couch did not return an earlier call.

Both Seal and Bogalusa Mayor Charles Mizell have told wpnewsblog they are working “on a deal that will be great” for the community and hope to make an announcement soon.

Sources tell wpnewsblog there is a team of about 20 persons who will stay until July 25 in the shutdown process, but that the remainder of the workforce would finish employment on Monday. At about 7 p.m. Friday, there were seven vehicles in the parking lot and, at noon Saturday there were 18 — with five bearing Mississippi plates. While the majority of the hourly workers and first-line supervisors reside in Washington Parish, there have always been a number of employees from the Tylertown, Dexter, Sandy Hook, Foxworth and Columbia areas.

“Who can transfer for what they pay?” a supervisory employee who requested anonymity at the time, asked. “People making $8 an hour can’t afford to move and they sure aren’t going to pay for it. The coaches (team leaders) don’t make a lot more than the customer service reps.”

Seal said the decision did not surprise him, as he had been notified three previous times that the company was considering closing the Bogalusa facility.

Seal told wpnewsblog that Sitel cited several factors in reaching the decision, including the national economy, the lack of Spanish-speaking employees, the location of the call center in a hurricane zone and the distance from a commercial airport.

“I think the fact we were nearing the end of their agreement also played a factor, although they wouldn’t admit that,” Seal said. “They had raised some questions about the requirements and things like that a few months ago.”

One of the conditions of the company’s contract with the city — going back to when the facility was new — was that a workforce of 300 be maintained.

And an educated, dependable workforce was one of the problems in Bogalusa.

“You have to show up for work,” a floor coach told a training class last September. “You said you wanted to work and we hired you and scheduled you, so you have to show up.”

That class of 16 was down to 13 being the six-week training period was up and only four remained at the end of January.

“Turnover is a problem,” trainer Janet Cotton told the September class. “The churn is more than 100 percent.”

The $3 million facility housing Sitel was constructed for what was then known as Service Zone in 2000 and 2001. Service Zone, a Florida-based call center, had been located in a former retail space in Shopyard Square before relocating to the Industrial Park in September 2001.

In March 2002, the state reimbursed the city’s Industrial Park Fund to the tune of $1.5 million — it’s share of the cost of the project. At the time, Service Zone employed 346 people and planned to add between 80 and 100 over the next two months.

Louisiana Secretary of Economic Development Don Hutchinson said at the time that the state was focusing on bringing in what he described as “technology jobs.”

In January 2004, ClientLogic acquired Service Zone’s operations, including Bogalusa, but by summer things weren’t looking very promising as the company announced it had lost its only contract (for the Bogalusa operation) and would likely lay off its entire workforce — which, by this time, was below 300. Things turned around, though, when the company announced it had acquired three, and possibly, four contracts for Bogalusa.

The company continued to push for growth in its Bogalusa operations, but ran into problems.

In April 2005, the company announced it was having difficulty meeting its goal of hiring 375 new workers by July because of a lack of computer and customer service skills in the local workforce. The company’s director of operations even went before the Washington Parish Council to seek out qualified workers.

Darlene Larkin said only about half of the 50 applicants the company received daily were qualified, but that there was a 50 percent failure rate when those were tested for employment.

Then came Hurricane Katrina. The company shuttered its Bogalusa operations after the storm hit on Aug. 29, 2005, but reopened three weeks later, although not with the pre-storm workforce of 350.

By mid-September 2006, the company announced it was planning to add 60 jobs in October and an additional 100 by the end of the year. To reach those goals, the company announced it would offer referral bonuses and sign-on bonuses. In addition, to emphasize its recommitment to Bogalusa, the company planned a grand reopening.

In February 2007, ClientLogic had merged with Sitel and the workforce was now down to 240 persons. ClientLogic’s starting wage was $7 per hour with increases to $9 after about 18 months, Larkin had explained.

Bogalusa’s Sitel operations had a single client, Citizens Bank Group, a division of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

OPINION: Recapping the week thus far

Processing the week thus far …

•••

Joe Culpepper, Bogalusa’s chief of police, was processing paperwork for 17 warrants that were to be served Tuesday morning when things started turning upside down Sunday night.

“I was here (in his office), working on that paperwork, when the call came in,” he said.

“The call.”

“The call” he was referring to was the one that came it at 8:44 p.m. and advised an off-duty police officer was firing his gun and officers were responding.

Culpepper, who normally has a welcoming smile on his face, wasn’t smiling as he recounted the events of the evening, including the decision on who would lead the initial investigation and response.

Then, with the processing of warrant paperwork still needing to be done, Culpepper called out Det. Kendall Bullen, who was in the process of heading to bed when his phone rang.

“I think it was 2:30 or so when he finished,” Culpepper said, a fact Bullen confirmed about 4:20 Tuesday morning at the National Guard Readiness Center as another in what has been promised to be a series of drug busts was getting ready to go down.

And so, when wpnewsblog began chasing the Chief at 6:50 Monday morning, he was trying to get some shut-eye after pulling a two-tiered all-nighter. There’s no reason he wouldn’t have his cell phone off and there was no reason he wouldn’t be coming to work around noon after the night he — and his department — had been through. And wpnewsblog fired an unnecessary shot across the bow because of the late arrival and the quest to get the information.

And we all know the public details of the story up to this point … that off-duty PFC Anton Atkins allegedly committed armed robbery, discharging a weapon in the process, and was arrested.

•••

But …

… Atkins’ alleged victim, 31-year-old Willie Holloway of Angie, has anything but a squeaky clean reputation. He was one of 17 sought in Tuesday’s drug raid and was one of two officers were warned about as being potentially dangerous.

Holloway, who we understand went to the local newspaper to “tell his story,” said he was “just riding around” when Atkins and a second person, Marvin Austin, Jr.,  pulled his vehicle in front of Holloway’s.

Austin, incidentally, was the name of the second person wpnewsblog was given and referred to in the initial reporting of the incident at 9:52 Monday morning. Austin wound up being arrested on Sunday, but not in connection with Holloway’s claims, instead on an FTA.

So, how many of us go out “just riding around” with $700 in our pockets? On a Sunday night? At the end of two streets that run into the back entrance of Northshore Technical College’s Sullivan Campus?

Yeah, right. You get the same picture we did.

•••

As Tuesday’s drug bust was getting started, a familiar face walked in the back door of the armory — Charles Mizell.

It wasn’t a public ribbon cutting where the cameras would be on him and the big, fake scissors in-hand, but it was just after 5:20 a.m. and he was there as mayor, supporting his officers.

And every time someone brought in a bad guy, Mizell had an encouraging word for them. When it was a Bogalusa officer, he took the extra step of telling them he appreciated what they were doing and it was a job well done.

It may not seem like much to the cynics among us, but I overheard more than one member of the force make a comment about his presence, followed by a “That’s cool” or another phrase that indicated it made them feel a bit better about the support they get.

•••

And finally — for this recap — we’ve made contact with several members of the family of the late Bogalusa Fire Capt. Anthony J. Fiorenza, who is the only firefighter to have died in the line of duty in Bogalusa fire department history.

The 43^rd anniversary of the fire was last Friday and, after wpnewsblog asked Chief Richard Moody about it, the department hastily organized a memorial observance at the station on West 8^th, where Fiorenza had been made captain just four days prior to his death.

We’d like to say there was a good turnout, but there wasn’t. In fact, other than yours truly and the firefighters themselves, the only other observers were Barbara Crawford and her YWCA Photography Day Camp class — Eden Breazeale, Olivia Kennedy, Makayla Ramser, Jayla Buchanan, Katelyn Gray and Dana Breazeale.

After the two stories appeared on wpnewsblog — the only two published about the memorial observance — we heard from Fiorenza’s sole surviving sister and his daughter.

From his sister, Mary Dugan-Brignac, on Sunday: “Mr. Walker, thank you very much for this article.  I am Anthony's only living sibling, and I live here in Bogalusa, about 8 blocks from the Pleasant Hill Fire Station.  Of course, I attended the Memorial in July 2004, along with my now deceased sister Lena Jacobs.  My picture appeared in the Daily News with the story about the memorial.  My brother has a daughter and grandson who live near Slidell and a son and granddaughters who live in Baker, LA.”

On Wednesday, I heard from Toni Fiorenza McKinney, his daughter. She and her husband and her 21-year-old son — Fiorenza’s grandson — live in Pearl River.

As he requested, I have forwarded the contact information to Chief Moody so he can get the family involved next year when the now-annual memorial observance will be held.

•••

To all of you who read and follow wpnewsblog, a sincere thank you.

Since our first post, on the spring nursing graduation at Northshore Technical College on May 17, our site has been visited more than 28,000 times. Yes, there have been some big news stories that drove those numbers, but I also believe there was some steady, constant reporting that helped a bunch, too.

Unless you log on via phone, there’s a counter on the right hand side of our page that shows you how many visitors we’ve had and I also want you to know we now have more than 200 followers on Facebook (WPNewsBlog). We’re on Twitter, too, but I’m still learning the nuances of tweeting, so for right now, I feel like a twit in that arena.

But again … thank you for your support and for passing along those news tips!

(John H. Walker is editor/publisher of wpnewsblog. He is a 40-year veteran of the communications industry, having worked in newspaper, radio and television prior to opening his own consulting firm and venturing into social media on his own. He may be reached at 789-0918 or at wpnews@ymail.com)

Citizen participation dominates council meeting

The Bogalusa City Council, after receiving a brief, but somewhat positive 2010 audit report from CPA Robert Nielsen, finished its agenda in a total of six minutes — which had it on a pace to beat the record of eight minutes, set back in 2008.

But then it was time for public participation.

Before reaching that point in the agenda, Neilsen said that his 90-page report accurately reflected the city's position and described it as "an unqualified report" which, he said, meant "the City of Bogalusa's financial information they are providing to the citizens" is properly reflected.

There were no questions from the council.

The council also unanimously approved a resolution renewing a five mil ad valorem tax for the purpose of funding the city's portion of the Choctaw Landfill

And after two public hearings resulted in no public comment, they unanimously approved an ordinance to amend and re-enact Sect. 12-109 of the Bogalusa Code regarding amplified music and another, which set the millage rate for 2011 at 42.13 mils and a rate for the bond retirement sinking fund at 7.70 mils.

And with that business handled, it was time for public participation.

First up was District E resident Ken Bush, who first complained about the courtroom sound system before once again complaining to the council about Article 77, which, he claims, restricts his ability to make a living.

Bush asked the council to rescind Article 77, which prohibits divination, palm reading, psychics or character reading in the city.

Bush said he had rented business space on Austin Street, where he was planning to operate what has been described as a dating/matchmaking service based on psychic readings, but that when city officials discovered his plans, he was forced to close or be in violation of the law.

On Monday, Councilwoman Oneita Graham asked Bush why it had taken him eight years — from the closure of his business in 2003 until now — to complain.

His response that it had taken him this long to gather his courage (to appear) brought chuckles from the audience.

District E Councilman Randy Hodges asked Bush where he would locate his business, if he received approval

"On Austin Street ... or in my home," Bush replied.

Hodge then asked the nature of Bush's business and when both Graham and Council President Wendy Perrette said, "dating service," Hodge was quick to respond with, "Not in my district."

Bush then alleged the council was restricting business development and sat down.

Council also heard complaints that the time between the receipt of water bills and the due date — in this specific case, July 2 and July 10 — was too short and didn't allow sufficient time for someone to pay their bill by mail.

Gayle McCants asked the council if any consideration had been given to increasing the base allowable water usage in the bill and reducing the sewer percentage.

Perrette told McCants that consideration was being given to upping the gallons, but that no consideration was being given to reducing the sewer rate.

Fate Ferrell then repeated McCants' question about sewer rates and added the resolving of issues with the water bill to the list of complaints.

"We elected ya'll to get this fixed," Ferrell said. "When can we expect to get an answer?"

Perrette said there was no timeline, only to get the problems and concerns addressed as quickly as possible.

"I don't think that the 95 percent for sewerage is going to change ... I think the gallons, there is a possibility of that changing."

When Ferrell shot back that the rates weren't fair, Perrette was quick to respond: "Mr. Ferrell, we're all paying it. There are two people in my house, a 35-year-old and an 8-year-old and I don't think they're air ... my aunt pays it, we all (gesturing to the council) pay it. I don't know anyone that's getting a break."

When given the chance, Mayor Charles Mizell thanked everybody for coming "and bringing such a positive attitude."

He pointed out, "for those of you who don't remember, we inherited a few problems, but we're working to address them."

Mizell thanked everyone who helped with the planning, organization and execution of the community's July 4 celebration and encouraged others to participate.

"Feel free to get involved and help address some of the concerns you are voicing," he said.

Disaster averted as City Hall fire extinguished

A firefighter shines his flashlight
on the power strip that shorted out
and started a fire in the City Clerk's
office at Bogalusa City Hall late
Friday. (Photo by John H. Walker)

A disaster was averted late Friday afternoon when sprinklers were able to extinguish a fire that had broken out in the City Clerk’s office in Bogalusa’s historic City Hall.

“The sprinkler system did its job,” said Fire Chief David Moody. “If it had gotten into that wood and up above the ceiling tiles, it would have been a tough fight.”

The fire started in an overloaded power strip behind a desk in the office, just off the foyer of the building.

“It’s easy to see where it started and worked its way up the wall,” Moody said. “Several ceiling tiles were down in the originating office, and another couple were down in the second office, which is located next to the office of Judge Robert Black.

Burned and melted items on the
desk where the power strip was
located. (Photo by John H. Walker)

“This could have been really bad,” Black said, as he surveyed the damage and started the process of collecting water damaged court records to take home over the weekend to dry out.

“It got some wood, but at the least sprinklers did their job,” Moody said, as he and Black discussed ways to protect the undamaged records while allowing the offices to air out from the acrid smell.

A stack of books,
manuals and registers
charred and wet.
(Photo by John H. Walker

Mayor Charles Mizell said he had arrived at City Hall right after firefighters got the blaze under control.

“I had been at a lift station that wasn’t working when I got the call about this (the fire),” Mizell said as he surveyed the damage about 7:45 p.m. “This could have been really bad.”

Bogalusa’s City Hall was built in 1917 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

(First published at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)

Loud music on city council agenda for Tuesday

Loud music — and how loud is too loud — is on the agenda facing members of the Bogalusa City Council when they gather at 5:30 Tuesday afternoon in the Municipal Courtroom at City Hall.

Councilwoman Johni Miles Blount will introduce an ordinance to amend and re-enact Sect. 12-109 of the Bogalusa Code to provide relative to sound amplification systems, define violations and setting penalties.

A second ordinance, to be introduced by Council Vice President Michael O’Ree, will set the city’s millage rates as required by law.

Council will also hold a public hearing on an ordinance allowing Mayor Charles Mizell to sell property to the Louisiana DOTD at appraised value to allow for the construction of bridges over Lawrence, Bogue Lusa and Coburn Creeks on Louisiana Highway 10. The appraised value of the property is $3,063.

Council members will also hear from Sandy Bloom pertaining to Louisiana Development Ready Communities. Louisiana Development Ready Communities Program is one of Louisiana Economic Development’s strategies to strengthen the economic competitiveness of municipalities and Bogalusa was one of the communities selected for inclusion.

Council will also get an update on the humane society from Ann Pelmear and from Emma Dixon on historic preservation.

Persons wishing to address the council are reminded they must sign up in address and are limited to three minutes. The next council meeting will be Tuesday, July 5.

Bogalusa Council set to meet Tuesday

Members of the Bogalusa City Council face a brief, agenda when they  meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Municipal Courtroom at City Hall, located at 214 Arkansas Ave.

First up is the repeal and reenactment of Ordinance No. 1961, which, because of the nature of the ordinance, requires a 30-day layover until the July 19 meeting.

After that, council will consider an ordinance to authorize Mayor Charles Mizell to sell a specific parcel of land to the State of Louisiana at its appraised value.

The third action item will be a public hearing on an ordinance to re-enact Section 4-31 of the Code of Ordinances to provide for a 300-foot distance operational restriction for certain alcohol-related businesses in regards to church, synagogue, public library, public playground, school, full-time daycare center or correctional facility or halfway house.

The final action is an ordinance to allow Mizell to enter into a contract with the successful bidder for operation of the Choctaw Landfill. This contract will be with the landfill’s current contractor, Landworks, Inc.

On Monday, the Washington Parish Council is expected to authorize Parish President Richard Thomas to enter into the contract after it holds a public hearing on Resolution No. 11-549.

Persons wishing to speak before the council are limited to three minutes and are required to sign up prior to the start of the meeting.

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)