[StBernard] Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Events in St. Bernard

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Wed Aug 26 19:03:54 EDT 2009


St. Bernard Parish will host two Saturday events for Katrina Anniversary
Morning ceremony at Katrina Monument; Evening Community Celebration at
Torres Park with music by Harvey Jesus



St. Bernard Parish Government will mark the fourth anniversary of Hurricane
Katrina's landfall with a Community Celebration on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 5:30
p.m. at Torres Park to allow citizens to come together to celebrate all that
is good and enduring about the parish's recovery and growth.



St. Bernard Parish Government also will hold a ceremony on Aug. 29 at 8:30
a.m. at the Katrina Monument in Shell Beach at the Mississippi River-Gulf
Outlet for the anniversary.



President Taffaro said the day is a time to commemorate the storm's
aftermath as well as celebrating the ongoing progress and embracing the
citizens' zeal about day-to-day steps in the parish's recovery.



"Recovering from Hurricane Katrina has tested the resolve of our beloved St.
Bernard Parish, but the determination of its residents shines through daily
around us as we witness signs of all sorts of recovery and growth," Taffaro
said.



Last year, an updated monument with additional names was rededicated at the
Shell Beach memorial site. This year, the public is invited to gather again
in front of the granite monument that bears the names of 163 St. Bernard
Parish victims of Hurricane Katrina who died as a result of the storm,
whether it was during the actual event or because of the evacuation.



Alton Blappert, a retired St. Bernard Parish Firefighter and a retired
commercial fisherman, along with the assistance of his friend, David Meyer
of Kenilworth, spent their own time and money replanting and maintaining the
garden in time for the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The garden
is now full of more than 20 potted plants placed outside the rocked garden
at the foot of the monument in addition to the numerous plantings inside the
rocked area.



This year's Community Celebration will feature the music of Harvey Jesus
from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Community Playground Amphitheater in Torres Park
behind the Government Complex. Also, President Taffaro invited civic groups,
government agencies and citizens to participate in a "We're Still Here
Gallery," a series of tables to showcase items, icons and memorabilia that
show what is good that has endured in our parish, and several groups
confirmed that they will take part in this event.



The celebration will include an "Everything St. Bernard Tent" - a one-stop
shop where non-profit organizations will be selling items from various
community events that have been held throughout the year. This is your
chance to pick up one of these signature items that you may have missed.
Items for sale will include: the Islenos Posters & Cookbooks from this
year's Fiesta, the 13th Annual Art in April Posters, featuring Kenilworth
Plantation, tote bags and t-shirts, Celebrate St. Bernard, garden flags,
magnets and fish towels, Stitch-in-Time's Southern Comfort cookbook, 4th of
July T-Shirts, Redfish Cup hats and aprons, and the Tourist Commission will
be selling water.



The band's performance is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division
of the Arts as administered by the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural
Affairs.

Also, on Saturday, Aug. 29, Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church will observe
the anniversary at its 4 p.m. Vigil Mass. The Most Rev. Shelton Fabre,
Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans, will be the main celebrant. The Rosary will
be recited at 3 p.m.

Additionally, as the St. Bernard School Board has done since the storm, it
will hold its fourth annual Day of Reflection Breakfast in the Chalmette
High School gymnasium on Friday, Aug. 28 at 8:30 a.m. HOWEVER, THE EVENT IS
SOLD OUT. After the breakfast, Superintendent Doris Voitier will lead a
second line across the newly completed elevated walkway that crosses Judge
Perez Drive for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new 9th Grade Academy.
Before the event, the School Board will hold an 8 a.m. Ribbon Cutting at the
School Based Health Clinic, located next to the school gymnasium.

For more information about Recovery and Growth in St. Bernard Parish, visit
our website at www.sbpg.net
<https://mail.sbpg.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sbpg.net/> .

###



The schedule for Hurricane Katrina Anniversary events is as follows:



Friday, August 28

* 8:00 a.m.: School Board, Chalmette High Ribbon Cutting at
the Student Based Health Center, next to the Chalmette High Gym.

* 8:30 a.m.: School Board 4th Annual Day of Reflection and 9th
Grade Academy Ribbon Cutting, Chalmette High School. The EVENT IS SOLD OUT.



Saturday, August 29

* 8:30 a.m.: Commemorative Ceremony at the Katrina Monument at
Shell Beach.

* 3:00 p.m.: Rosary to be recited at Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Church in Chalmette.

* 4:00 p.m.: Anniversary Mass at Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Church in Chalmette.

* 5:30 to 8:00: Community Celebration at Torres Park in
Chalmette with Harvey Jesus performing from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. including the
"We're Still Here" Gallery.






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