Veterans Day celebrated at VFW Post 8971

Veterans from the Eunice area as well as friends and family gathered Wednesday at VFW Post 8971 in honor of Veterans Day.
Post Commander Terry Matte said, “Thank you for coming out here on this beautiful day. We want to help the public understand Veterans Day. There is a big difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. One is to celebrate service and the other is to commemorate sacrifice.”
About 300 people attended the event, and Mayor Scott Fontenot, Link Savoie, past state commander of the Louisiana Veterans of Foreign Wars and Capt. Clay Higgins with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department were guest speakers at the event. The program also included a flag disposal ceremony 
Before Matte turned over the podium to the speakers, he thanked newly-elected state Rep. Phillip DeVillier for donating a new flag to the post. 
“He has been working really hard with the local veterans here,” Matte said. “We appreciate that.” 
Fontenot thanked the veterans in the audience for their service. 
“My dad and grandpa are both veterans,” Fontenot said. “You have done more than most people ever dream of doing. You served your country. We should thank our veterans every day. Without them, we would not be free.” 
Higgins, an Army veteran, was celebrating the first anniversary of his first speaking engagement as public information officer for the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, which was speaking at last year’s Veterans Day ceremony at the post. 
“The values and principals of the Constitution are carved into my heart,” Higgins said.  “I served and continue to serve today. These veterans deserve our respect. 
“This country will never fall. It may stumble but it will get back up. A man should not be judged by his mistakes, but by how he recovers from his mistakes.” 
Savoie served during the Korean War and he also served as state VFW commander in 2003. 
“It was a privilege to serve as state commander,” Savoie said. “To quote a Billy Ray Cyrus song —  ‘All gave some and some gave all.’ Those of us who are here today gave some.” 
Many of the veterans in the audience introduced themselves and shared which branch of the armed service they were enlisted in and which wars they served in, including local WW II veteran and POW Harold Gournay, who was recognized by Marion “Nootsie” Sattler, Eunice Ward 3 alderman.
To contact Claudette Olivier, email claudette.olivier@eunicetoday.com.