BATON ROUGE, La.—Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs staff at the state’s five veterans cemeteries will host ceremonies to remember veterans on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023. There are more than 8,800 veterans interred at our five state-rum veterans cemeteries, and it is our duty to provide them with a final resting place of honor.
“On Memorial Day, we honor those who paid the ultimate price and gave their lives in the line of duty,” LDVA Secretary Joey Strickland, COL (USA Retired) said. “We also honor the men and women who passed on after their service was complete. And, we cannot forget the families of our veterans as they too made sacrifices to support their loved ones.”
The cemeteries’ Memorial Day ceremonies will include words of remembrance, prayers and the playing of Taps. Representatives from veterans service organizations will lay wreaths during the ceremonies as well.
Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m.
Speaker: BG David Gardner, Commanding General, JRTC and Fort Polk
Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m.
Speaker: MSG Rudy Bourg
Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m.
Speaker: SGT Maurice L. Simmons
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m.
Suggested arrival time 9:30 a.m.
Speakers: Four families of veterans interred at SELVC
Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m.
Speakers: Lenor Cox, wife of Ted Cox Sr.; Jaquetta Fontenot, wife of Roy Fontenot; and EN3 Harry Ardoin, all three who have their spouses buried at the cemetery