Wall healing for local vets

Jane Beadle said she did not know whether to laugh or cry.

The wife of World War II veteran Raymond “Mona” Beadle of Morgan City, said when she saw “The Wall That Heals” in front of the Morgan City Auditorium, it brought back fond memories of Marine Corps Pfc. John C. Seebode, who was like another son to her, because of his relationship with her older son Raymond.

“I know what that boy meant to me, and I know what I meant to him,” Beadle said. “So today, when I saw his name on The Wall, I just didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”

Morgan City Councilman Ronnie Bias, himself a Vietnam Vet, said the monument is a big witness to the families of all 58,000 names who appear on the wall, “for all the joy they brought to them, but for the freedom they bought for all of us.”

D. Allen Lowery, a Vietnam Veteran, and a Purple Heart Recipient for his work and fight in Saigon, said he takes the entire project on a personal level.

“I lost so many comrades in 1975, after a year of fighting in Saigon,” Lowery said. “I hear their voices today, as I walk along this monument to them. But if you listen carefully, you can hear them calling out to you as well.”

The memorial opened in Morgan City last week, stretching 250 feet in front of the city’s auditorium.

The American Legion Riders, Atchafalaya Post No. 96, provided a motorcycle escort as The Wall traveled from Laplace to Morgan City. Roughly 100 cyclists, including members of the United Riders of Southern Louisiana, a consortium of more than 20 area motorcycle organizations, joined in the parade.

Mayor Tim Matte was the catalyst in getting the traveling piece of United States history to come to Morgan City, to blow out the candles on the city’s 150th birthday celebration.

“This is just another example for me, that if you need to get something done, you simply ask someone who is a member of the military,” Matte said. “Once you ask, you simply stand back and watch them move.

“This is also special for me, and it’s a special way for us to honor all 17 St. Mary Parish residents, whose names are on this wall.”

The mayor then added that the wall’s arrival in Morgan City means more than just honoring the St. Mary residents.

“But frankly, it’s biggest story, is that The Wall The Heals is a reminder for all of us, on the true cost of war,” Matte said. “Taking this into account, we should all recommit ourselves as a community, as a nation and as mankind, to the cause of peace.”

Minnie E Henry and Noel Henry Stewart said The Wall was a blessing. “We’ve never seen the original. And today, we get to honor our brother, Staff Sgt. Clarence Ivory Henry,” they said.

Henry served 10 years in the war, before he got killed on Jan 28, 1967, Minnie said.

Joseph Allen Jr., another Vietnam Vet, said The Wall made him think, “it was just like yesterday.”

“All I can say is thank God that I can stand here and be a witness to this, today,” Allen said.

Earline Broussard, cried, saying she has never been able to travel to Washington D.C. to see the original monument. “My nephew’s name is on that wall. My nephew’s name is on that wall. I just can’t stop saying it.”

“I am very thankful to Mayor Tim Matte for bringing The Wall here,” Broussard said.

St. Mary Parish President Paul Naquin credited Jane Beadle and Anne Cunningham, another member of the Marine Corps league, for researching all of the St. Mary Parish names on The Wall.

“My prayers go out to all 58,000 families,” Naquin said.

The 17 St. Mary Parish residents are, in alphabetical order, Air Force Sgt Allen J Bodin, Air Force Capt. Gordon R. Brown, Army Pfc. Bradley T Daigle, Army Spc. 4 Clarence Dardar Jr., Army Spc. Willie Francis, Marine Staff Sgt Clarence I Henry, Army Spc. 4 Raymond P Johnson, Marine Corps Lance Cpl Thomas E LaCoste, Marine Corps Pfc. Malcolm F. Leger, Army Pfc. Lloyd Lockett , Army Pfc. Dexter J. Lombas, Army Pfc. Marvin J Louviere, , Army Corp. Milton J. Mendoza of Franklin, Marine Corps Pfc. Danny L Paul, Army Pfc. Lionell Powell; Marine Corps Pfc. John C. Seebode, and Army Pfc,. Kurney J. White Jr.