Visit Lake Charles, LA: Memorial Day in SWLA

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Friday, May 23, 2014

Memorial Day in SWLA

9:23 AM | Posted by Unknown | | Edit Post

M emorial Day in Lake Charles offers several ways to pay honor to those who have fought for our freedoms. One way is to visit the Avenue of Flags at the Graceland/Orange Grove Cemetery.Casket Flags line the drive through the cemetery in honor of fallen men and women. These flags were donated just for this day and special memoriam. The flags will be on display from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Memorial Day. In addition to the memorial flags, the Avenue of Flags also features a history circle where replicas of eight previous United States flags are flown.

Avenue of Flags. Photo by www.monsourphotography.net

At the Veteran's War Memorial Park by the Lake Charles Civic Center, you can see a particularly heroic story of a soldier who paid the ultimate price to save others.

Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Fournet, Infantry, distinguished himself in action while serving as rifle platoon leader of the 2d Platoon, Company B. While advancing uphill against fortified enemy positions in the A Shau Valley, the platoon encountered intense sniper fire, making movement very difficult. The right flank man suddenly discovered an enemy claymore mine covering the route of advance and shouted a warning to his comrades. Realizing that the enemy would also be alerted, 1st Lt. Fournet ordered his men to take cover and ran uphill toward the mine, drawing a sheath knife as he approached it. With complete disregard for his safety and realizing the imminent danger to members of his command, he used his body as a shield in front of the mine as he attempted to slash the control wires leading from the enemy positions to the mine. As he reached for the wire the mine was detonated, killing him instantly. Five men nearest the mine were slightly wounded, but 1st Lt. Fournet's heroic and unselfish act spared his men of serious injury or death. His gallantry and willing self-sacrifice are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.