Over the past weekend, St. Bernard Parish President Louis Pomes engaged in a series of events reinforcing the community’s respect for military personnel past and present. At the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony on Saturday, he joined the Daughters of the American Revolution's Francois de Lery Chapter at Chalmette National Cemetery, where they honored the fallen with the laying of nearly 1,000 wreaths, as reported in a Facebook post by the St. Bernard Parish Government.
Continuing the weekend's tributes, Pomes was present the next day at Jackson Barracks for the 1-141st Field Artillery Battalion’s departure ceremony, where he addressed the soldiers, close to 150, are preparing for deployment, expressing the community's heartfelt gratitude for their service, wishing them safety on their journey wishing also for a swift return home. The event was officiated by Brigadier General Michael M. Greer, who represented Major General Thomas Friloux, as noted by the St. Bernard Parish Government post.
The procession of gestures over the weekend was more than mere ceremony; it was a testament to the perennial bond that communities like St. Bernard Parish Government seek to maintain with the men and women who don the uniforms emblematic of sacrifice and dedication to nation. President Pomes articulated this bond when he "expressed his deep appreciation for the community’s commitment to honoring those who served," a community that stands by its pledge to never forget the valor and sacrifice of its service members.
In a final acknowledgment, the St. Bernard Parish Government extended its respect and thanks to all active duty military and veterans: "Again, on behalf of St. Bernard Parish, we’d like to express our deep respect and gratitude for all active duty military and veterans who serve our nation, as well as their families for their unending commitment, sacrifice, and service." These formal gestures, steeped in reverence and gratitude, serve not just as events on a calendar, they reaffirm the collective consciousness of a community's unwavering support for its protectors, both at home and abroad.
