by Gary Schoelerman, Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group

On Saturday, November 4, the general citizenry of my hometown of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana (population 7,500), may have been startled to see and hear two F-15 Air Force Eagles flying low level over the city, but the 400-500 people at the Breaux Bridge Veterans Park were more than aware of what was going on. It was the beginning of the dedication of the Memorial Flag Plaza in the town’s Veterans Park. 

The plaza has an 8-foot-by-60-foot solid granite wall with a life-size American Bald Eagle on one end. On the wall are six 24-inch round bronze sculptured medallions from each of the military service branches and one for POW/MIA. Next to each medallion is a bronze plaque with the name and date of origin of the service in English and Braille. In front of each medallion is a 25-foot flagpole with the flag of that branch of service.

In front of the service flags is a 30-foot pole with the American Flag. In front of that pole is a 4-foot-by 6-foot-by 34-inch black granite pedestal with six bronze plaques on the back. The plaques contain the names of the donors. On the front of the pedestal is a bronze memorial plaque with the names of the 99 citizens of St. Martin Parish that were killed in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. On the top of the pedestal, directly above the memorial plaque, is a Bronze Braille American Flag and a bronze plaque honoring the founders of the Blinded Veterans Association and the foresight they exercised to help future generations of blind and low vision veterans adjust and assimilate back to civilian life. This latter plaque is inscribed in both English and Braille. The flag and plaque were donated by the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group, Inc.

Several individuals and organizations were recognized at the dedication, including staff members of Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a staff member over veterans issues for Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA-3), a representative of Governor-elect Jeff Landry, and many local political figures and representatives from veteran, civilian, and blind organizations. The Mayor and Parish President gave short speeches. The keynote speaker was Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Col. Joey Strickland, US Army (ret). 

The Chairman of the Design and Building committee then thanked the donors and all who had participated in the construction. Much of the material and the labor were either donated or discounted. Although the Memorial Flag Plaza still cost more than $150,000, even with the discounts, no government funds were used, nor was any money taken from federal, state, parish, or city accounts. The support all came from the hearts and wallets of the citizens and friends of St. Martin Parish. This plaza and park are among the few that are fully accessible, including wheelchair accessible. In addition, most of the plaques are in English and Braille. 

This plaza would make any city proud. Where else would you see a life-size eagle sitting on an 8-foot granite wall looking at our American Flag? Perhaps nowhere.

Editor’s Note: For reasons of modesty and maybe a few others, Gary did not mention his participation on the Memorial Flag Plaza’s Design and Building Committee from start to finish, a key variable in the prominence of the Bronze Braille American Flag and tribute to the founders of the Blinded Veterans Association at Memorial Flag Plaza. He and his wife, Marelle, dedicated months of their time to raising funds to cover the continuously expanding cost of the project and to working with the architect, contractors, and builders.