The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery invites citizens to come out and take part in recognizing and honoring military veterans and their families for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of the country.

Under the Memorial Day program theme, “The Importance of Remembering Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice,” the program will take place at 11 a. m, Monday, May 31 at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville.

Maj. Gen. Jim Graves, USAF, retired, will be the guest speaker.

Masks are not required as long as social distancing is maintained. There will be no tents or chairs.

All Memorial Day participants and wreath presenters are required to complete a registration form. Please select all the areas that you or your organization would like to assist. Registration forms are due Wednesd.

Registration forms can be submitted via fax: (318) 925-5521 or e-mail: NLVC@LA.gov.

If your organization will be presenting a wreath you are responsible for the wreath, an easel for the wreath to stand on and someone to present the wreath at the program.

All volunteers and wreath presenters are asked to sign in at the sign-in table on the porch of the Administrative Building on Memorial Day when they arrive

For more information, call (318) 925-0612.

Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home and Gandy-Brown Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4588 plan to hold again a Memorial Day observance Monday, May 31, at Hill Crest Memorial Park on U.S. Highway 80 in Haughton just east and north of Louisiana Downs.

This year the 43rd Annual Memorial Day Service will begin at 8 a.m. in the cemetery’s Sunrise Amphitheater with the presentation of colors by the Haughton High Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard. The Veterans of Foreign Wars 12th District Honor Guard will provide a 21-gun salute with a rendering of "Taps" at the conclusion of the service.

The guest speaker will be Timothy Sloan, senior vice commander for the Department of Louisiana Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Wreaths will be placed by veterans’ and other organizations and individuals who want to participate in the service. Haughton AFJROTC cadets will assist in the placement of the wreaths.

The event, intended to honor and remember our departed loved ones and with heroes who fought and died for our country to protect our freedom and American way of life, is open to the general public.

May their deeds and sacrifices never be forgotten.

The Fleet Reserve Association Branch 98 is hosting a Memorial Day “Two-Bell” Observance on Monday, May 31 at 2 p.m. at the American Legion Post 14, located at 5315 Lakeshore Drive in Shreveport. 

Congressman Mike Johnson will be the guest speaker, and local winners of the FRA Essay Contest, “The Bill of Rights and Me,” will be recognized.  A wreath will also be cast on the water in memory of departed shipmates. The public is invited.

The Veterans Celebration Committee will host its Veterans Memorial Ceremony on Thursday beginning at 10 a.m., at the Bill Cockrell Park Gymnasium.  All CDC protocols will be in place.

The purpose of the memorial program is to honor and recognize those fallen veterans in conjunction with Memorial Day; that served the United States of America in the armed forces, (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard) and paid the ultimate price, the sacrifice of their lives.

The program will consist of the Barksdale AFB Honor Guard, demonstrating a military funeral, (folding of flag, playing of "Taps,'' shot volley, etc.)

The guest speaker will be Cpt. Justin Thompson, U.S. Army, active duty, Ft. Polk Joint Readiness Training Center. He is a native of Caddo Parish and Keithville.

Any organizations my present wreaths in honor of their deceased Veteran members, i.e., VFW, American Legion, fraternities, sororities, churches,etc.  Individual family members may bring a photo of their deceased veterans (8x10), and they will be recognized, a red, white, and blue floral w/flag will be presented to them in honor of their loved one.

 The VA Vet Center has a mobile Vet Center Unit that will be available to Veterans and family members on the parking lot of Bill Cockrell Park Center.