On December 13, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards accepted a Bronze Braille American Flag and Plaque on behalf of the State, capping a record number of 2023 Flag placements in a variety of locations, some of them especially noteworthy, by the Louisiana/Mississippi (LA/MS) Regional Group. The Flag and Plaque placed most recently are now both displayed outdoors in the Veterans Plaza next to the Governor’s residence.
Attending the brief ceremony with Governor Edwards were several members of his staff, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the State of Louisiana Col. Joey Strickland and his staff, BVA members Gary Schoelerman, Joe Burns, and Frances Arceneaux, and Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist Donna-Sue Sullivan. The Flag and Plaque had already been mounted on a wall above the Marine Medallion when the ceremony occurred.
Joe shared BVA’s history and mission with an interested Governor Edwards, who remained for several minutes to talk with the visitors. Governor Edwards is himself an Army veteran who served for eight years and graduated from West Point. Gary also explained the history and significance of the Flag.
Joe then informed the Governor of the financial support behind the Flags, much of which came in 2023 from a grant from the New Orleans Hash Houses Harriers, a running club that sponsors the Red Dress Run every August. On a humorous note, Joe related his own participation in the Red Dress Run just prior to his departure for the BVA 78th National Convention in St. Louis, to which Governor Edwards indicated that he was not planning himself to run or walk at any point through downtown New Orleans in a red dress.
In Baton Rouge alone, the LA/MS Regional Group has a Braille Flag at the State Capitol, the Governor’s Mansion, the two existing VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics, and the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired. The group recently heard from the Baton Rouge City Hall, where interest is also high to receive information about the Braille Flags and perhaps consider a placement.
“The LA/MS Regional Group has donated, with the help of many other philanthropic organizations, 30 flags throughout the region in the past two and a half years,” said Gary. “We hope to be able to give out another ten in 2024.”
