Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission to host National Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony
Published 2:20 pm Friday, March 15, 2024
- A statue of First Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet at Veterans Memorial Park in Lake Charles. Fournet was posthumously presented the Medal of Honor for his actions May 4, 1968, during the Vietnam War. Fournet used his body as a shield in front of a mine. When it detonated it killed him instantly. His heroic actions spared his men serious injury or death, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor citation. Fournet was from Kinder and attended McNeese. The Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission is starting a project to refurbish Veterans Memorial Park. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)
The city of Lake Charles Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission will host a “National Vietnam War Veterans Day” event at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at Veterans Memorial Park, located on the north side of the Lake Charles Event Center grounds.
The event is being held to honor United States Armed Forces Vietnam War Veterans and will feature guest speaker Colonel Rose Freeman, Commander of the 32D Hospital Center at Fort Johnson.
Following the program, Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission members will present official 50th Commemoration of the Vietnam War lapel pins to Vietnam Veterans in attendance, who have not previously been presented with the pin, in a special presentation ceremony.
The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration defines a Vietnam War Veteran as United States Armed Forces personnel with active-duty service years from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of location of service.
Refreshments will be available following the ceremony and the public is encouraged to attend. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at American Legion Post 1, 1530 9th St.
Event sponsors include Optimum, Brashear Law, Acadian Ambulance, Louisiana Mortgage Lenders Association, Dr. Daniel Weaver, Dr. Stephanie Weaver, SWLA Veterans Association, Volkswagen of Lake Charles, K-jon, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Coca-Cola, Lake Charles Toyota, Raising Canes, Lamar, Paul’s Rib Shack, American Legion Post 1 and KPLC.
For more information, call 337-491-1383.
