NEW ORLEANS -- In community centers, residences and city streets decorated in red- white- and blue, hundreds of veterans hailing from many different eras of America’s history gathered together with families, friends and community members to celebrate Veterans Day.
From color guards at the National Football League’s game between the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys, to community luncheons, wreath-layings and parades, the Marines from Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans were there to support.
MARFORRES Marines of all ranks turned out to various events over the Veterans Day weekend. The commanding general of 4th Marine Logistics Group spoke at a Veterans Day luncheon held in St. Charles Parish Nov. 7 about the importance of community support of service members and veterans.
“Our veterans face hurdles like post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries as well as a myriad of other hardships when fighting America’s battles,” Brig. Gen. Roger Machut said at the Veterans Day luncheon. “The sacrifices they have made stay with them for a lifetime, and our veterans deserve to be honored as the heroes they are.”
The St. John the Baptist’s Parish community took the time to honor their hometown heroes on Nov. 11, when the local Young Marines chapter held a parade and ceremony at Southeastern Louisiana War Veteran’s Home in Laplace, La., to salute veterans across the nation for the sacrifices they made.
Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, commander of MARFORRES and Marine Forces North, spoke at the ceremony, which featured a performance by Marine Corps Band New Orleans and speeches from veterans and local community leaders.
“It is an honor and a privilege to stand among heroes, and that’s where I am standing today,” Mills said. “As I rode down the parade route, and there were veterans and families waving and saluting, I thought to myself, ‘This is what America is all about. This is what these ladies and gentlemen in the audience have fought for, so that towns and cities like this can exist and remain free.’”
Mills continued to describe how many veterans serve their time in the military and go on to become good citizens and family members, contributing to their communities in any way they can because of their deeply engrained call to serve.
“Anyone who worries about the United States of America only has to do one thing: visit a camp where you have soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen, and you will understand that the future of this country is in great hands,” Mills said.
As the holiday weekend ended and the flags were folded, the balloons taken down and the banners boxed away until next year, Marine Forces Reserve salutes its hometown heroes year-round as they fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea.