75th Anniversary of the Bombing of Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony held in Chalmette

Family members of Pearl Harbor Survivors - Photo by Lenor Duplessis

On a beautiful, sunny day, the Ed Jones Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association held its annual Memorial Service on December 7th to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Bombing of Pearl Harbor at Pearl Harbor Memorial Park – the only park in honor of Pearl Harbor on the United States main land.  Attending the event was a number of elected officials, Chalmette High School’s ROTC, veterans, families and friends of the Pearl Harbor Survivors. The event included the presentation of colors by the U.S. Navy Color Guard, a fly over by the Civil Air Patrol, Greetings by Parish President Guy McInnis, history of the park by designer Mike Hunnicutt, presentation of a memorial wreath, presentation of roses for the ships that were destroyed or lost during Pearl Harbor, TAPS by LA State Trooper Monty Montelongo and music by Parish Employee Pamela Wegener Griffith.  The Guest Speaker for the event was Assistant U.S. Attorney John Murphy of the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Debra Jones Barry, President of the Ed Jones Chapter of the Sons and Daughters of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, reminded those in attendance of Pearl Harbor’s casualty statistics and told them that 2,403 people on the U.S. side lost their lives December 7, 1941.  Mrs. Barry said the chance to meet and talk with Pearl Harbor Survivors no longer exists because the last survivor passed away earlier this year.

Also during the ceremony was the dedication of a Blue Star Marker by the State and local Garden Clubs.   Members of the various Garden Clubs presented President Guy McInnis with a beautiful Blue Star Marker that is placed behind the Memorial sign.

The following individuals and organizations were recognized during the ceremony for their contributions to the Pearl Harbor Memorial Park:

Valero Meraux Refinery for cleaning and landscaping the park; the Disabled Veterans of Louisiana, Chapter 4 for donating 20’ x 30’ flags yearly; the Law Offices of Sidney Torres, Floyd and Rita Gue, Meraux Foundation, Boasso America Corporation, Mary Ellen and Clifford Miller, Pat and Claire Pescay, American Sugar Refining, and St. Bernard Parish Tourist Commission each for donating a Palm Tree that was placed in the memorial park; Artists Claire Pescay, Donna Lind, Ed Estopinal and Rodney Asevedo for revitalizing the mural at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Park and parish employees who assisted with the event.

For more information about the Pearl Harbor veterans, contact Shirley Rambeau, Secretary of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association at shirleyrambeau@yahoo.com.

Dedication of Blue Star Memorial Marker by State and local garden clubs - Photo by Lenor Duplessis

Dedication of Blue Star Memorial Marker by State and local garden clubs – Photo by Lenor Duplessis

To view more photos visit www.facebook.com/StBGov.

To view more photos visit www.facebook.com/StBGov.

President McInnis with Artists Claire Pescay, Donna Lind, and Rodney Asevedo. - Photos by Lenor Duplessis

President McInnis with Artists Claire Pescay, Donna Lind, and Rodney Asevedo. – Photos by Lenor Duplessis

Palm Tree Donors - Photo by Lenor Duplessis

Palm Tree Donors – Photo by Lenor Duplessis

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