More than a dozen BVA members, friends, members of the Affiliated Blind of Louisiana, the American Council of the Blind, and the American Legion were on hand as the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group, Inc. continued its relentless Braille Flag campaign, presenting most recently a Bronze Braille American Flag to the Lafayette, Louisiana South Regional Library this past Monday, August 25. The flag was presented in honor of Catherine Calhoun Edgar, the mother of devoted Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist and honorary BVA member Donna-Sue Sullivan Dugas. Catherine passed away earlier this year.

The number of attendees was so many more than expected that the event had to be moved from the lobby to a large meeting room.

Vincent Pierre, former State Representative and current Municipal and Constituent Services Advisor in the office of Lafayette Mayor/President Monique Blanco Boulet, became the featured speaker when a last-minute emergency took Boulet away from the ceremony. Pierre described the Mayor/President’s Committee on Disabilities and how the City could help the Committee become more effective. Regional group member Gary Scholerman presented a brief history of BVA and the Braille American flag, emphasizing that the library is the perfect place for the flag since libraries are mandated to provide equal access to information for all, including the blind.

Laura-Gail Sullivan and Donna-Sue Sullivan Dugas thanked their friends, family, and the regional group for their support in this difficult time. They recalled their mother as a lifelong teacher with a passion for literacy education and helping children learn how to read, pointing out that a tribute to her in a library was very appropriate.

Regional group member Clennon McCann, both a World War II and a Korean War veteran, led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Nancy Marcentel was then called upon to sing “God Bless America”.

“Before Nancy began, however, she revealed that she hadn’t known in advance that the event would be honoring her Godmother, Catherine Sullivan,” said Gary. “She also added that her husband was a Vietnam War Veteran and that her father was a World War II veteran and, to top it all, her mother was a librarian!”

Since October 15, 2020, the Louisiana/Mississippi BVA Regional Group, Inc, partnering with various veteran and civilian service organizations, has placed 60 Bronze or Acrylic Braille American Flags and Plaques that identify the donors and honors the founders of BVA. The group plans on placing at least ten additional Braille flags by the end of the year.