A Memorial Day Ceremony was held at the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center in Covington Monday morning, sponsored by the Robert H. Burns American Legion Post No. 16 with a number of dignitaries taking part.
Here are some photographs of that event. Click on the images to make them larger.
More than a hundred veterans, their families, and special guests attended.
The audience included Major James Robinson, a 101-year-old veteran of World War II and the Korean War, seen seated at far left.
To begin the program, the St. Tammany Veterans Honor Guard advanced the colors.
A number of veterans services groups had informational tables, Past Commander Dennis Charlesworth (center) served as master of ceremonies, and Hailey Ogden sang the national anthem.
Mike Perfinski with the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs spoke about his agency's many various services to veterans in the state.
A large number of honored guests were introduced, including Pam Herty of the Post 16 Auxiliary, Rachel Shaw of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Matt Cole with the Justin McLeese Marine Corps Detachment.
According to the American Legion program booklet, Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday in May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it began in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
Miss Poppy Madelyn Ogden and Little Miss Poppy Cecilia Ogden led the Pledge of Allegiance, Parish President Mike Cooper welcomed those present, Rachel Shaw with the DAR spoke briefly, and Covington City Councilman Larry Rolling also addressed the crowd.
Gwen and Anthony Gole told the history of Military Working Dog Roxy. A special plaque honoring Military Working Dog Roxy was unveiled. American Legion Post 16 Joseph P. Untz Jr. presented Roxy's handler Gwen Gole with a certificate and together they unveiled the plaque honoring Roxy for her service. Roxy died late last year after several years of service in explosives detection with the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan and with the TSA at Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans. She also worked with the Love on a Leash Therapy Dog Program.
Several members of the Love on a Leash Therapy Program attended in memory of Roxy.
Joseph P. Untz Jr., Post Commander, presents certificate to Gwen Gole.
Unveiling the plaque honoring Military Working Dog Roxy
The St. Tammany Veterans Honor Guard then presented a ceremonial rifle salute, and the playing of taps.
American Legion member Richard Perl delivered the invocation and benediction for the event, which was closed by Hailey Ogden singing America The Beautiful, with a number of people in the audience joining in.
The Love on a Leash group posed for a group photo
Afterwards, members of the audience visited the Veterans Memorial Plaza and paused for a moment with the specially engraved bricks honoring their loved ones.
The Covington Fire Department flew the American flag from its ladder truck.
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