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The Louisiana National Guard, as directed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, has sent approximately 174 soldiers and airmen to augment the District of Columbia National Guard to ensure a safe and secure presidential inauguration.
In the wake of the civil unrest on the United States Capitol building in Washington D.C. and in preparation for the upcoming presidential inauguration Wednesday, the National Guard Bureau requested support from National Guardsmen from across the states and territories to provide crowd management; traffic control in and around the Capitol, National Mall and White House; as well as communications, logistical, medical, and public affairs support.
The Louisiana guardsmen who volunteered for this mission comprise of members of units from throughout the state.
Up to 25,000 citizen-soldiers and -airmen from U.S. states and territories are currently authorized to provide security, communications, medical evacuation and other support to civilian authorities throughout the presidential inauguration.
The U.S. Secret Service is the lead federal agency responsible for coordinating, planning, and implementing security for the presidential inauguration.
The National Guard will provide assistance as requested.

St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption students were again among the thousands who received degrees in winter commencement exercises around Louisiana.
Here are some of the graduates from the Tri-City area and surrounding areas:

LSU, Baton Rouge
Assumption Parish
Graduate School
Master’s
Falen Simone Johnson, Plattenville
St. Mary Parish
College of Human Sciences & Education
Nicholas Darrick Mayon, Berwick
Jasmine Lynette Notto, Franklin
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Sean Riley Fore, Franklin
Mark Martin St. Romain Jr., Morgan City
College of Human Sciences & Education
Drew Lawrence Landry, Morgan City

Northwestern
La. State,
Natchitoches
St. Mary Parish
College of Human Sciences & Education
Nicholas Darrick Mayon, Berwick
Jasmine Lynette Notto, Franklin
College of Humanities & Social
Sciences
Sean Riley Fore, Franklin
Mark Martin St. Romain Jr., Morgan City

Southeastern
Louisiana,
Hammond
St. Mary Parish
Bachelor’s Degrees
Morgan City -- Kerri L. Gray, Criminal Justice.
Patterson -- Sarah Easley, Criminal Justice.
Assumption Parish
Bachelor’s Degrees
Belle Rose -- Alexzandria Q. Dorsey, Psychology;
Labadieville -- Rodney L. Brown, General Studies
Napoleonville -- Ranesha J. Cassie, Communication Sciences & Disorders.
UL
Lafayette
Assumption Parish Baccalaureate Degree
Education
Lydia Rose Tramonte, Sciences
Katelynn A, Coupel University College
Chantel Thibodeaux Greco
St. Martin Parish
Baccalaureate
Degree
Business
Administration
Carmen Mckenzie Degeyter
Lydia M Guidry
Heather M. Jones
Todd R Nichols
Leah J’nae Philli
Brooke L Romero
Education
Alexander B. Franks
Engineering
Eric Van Bui
Dylan David Dugas
Joshua Andrew Freyou
Tracy Paul Latiolais
Rees Alan LeBlanc
Cody F Menard
Braxton Jude Resweber
Cody Michael Stelly
Liberal Arts
Marla Nicole Collet
Krystie LeBlanc Dupuis
Ethan John Eddy
Morgan G. Fontenot
Ashli Nicole Gachassin
Allison Clare Guidry
Brett Anthony Lavergne
Alex Christopher Mann
Dasha Inez Noel
Katelyn Monay Sam
TiffanyMarie Talabock
Nursing and Allied Health Professions
Shelley Renee Guilbeau
Sciences
Julien Ryan Bonin
Beau Courville
Judy Christine Dobler
Hunter Michael Theriot
Bryce Jude Wiltz
University College
Sonja Ann Defelice
Alyssa Hebert Dugas
Cicily Lashelle LeBlanc
Christopher Roy
Master’s Degree
Business
Administration
Taylor Serrette Angelle
Ashley Lenee Dugas
Bailey Royce Hebert
Trevor Paul Vaughn
Education
Lauren Marie Menard
St. Mary Parish
Baccalaureate
Degree
Business
Administration
Isabella Rose Braus
Education
Madeline Claire Comeaux
Brooklyn Mayon
Micaela Marie Washington
Engineering
Andre Aaron Adams
Karl David Young
Liberal Arts
Corrine Leigh Benandi
Destini Tranee Catchings
Ashley L Fromenthal
Ana Michelle Mata Gomez
Olivia Renae Thibodeaux
Derrasia Williams
Nursing and Allied Health
Professions
Sara M. Hebert
Emma Marguerite Lancon
Sciences
Raymond Harris
Aashna K Lakhani
Bryce D Landry
Kennon James LeJeune
Baylee R. Young
University College
Ashlynn Breanna Bergeron
Lindsey Marie Martin
Hallie Rachelle Mayon
Master’s Degree
Business
Administration
Sonya G Lee
Ruth Anne Marcrum
Kaitlyn Marie Percle
Kelsey M. Sanders
Morgan Elisabeth Splane

McNeese State,
Lake Charles
St. Mary Parish
Patterson: Kaitlyn M. Borel, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

METAIRIE — The Louisiana Restaurant Association announced its 2021 volunteer leadership with Keith Bond as its chair.
Greg Hamer of Taco Bell — B&G Food Enterprises, is a director from the Bayou Chapter.
Bond has been in the restaurant business since 1997 when he and his wife Shelly partnered with her father to open the second Mel’s Diner in Broussard. He has served on the LRA’s Board of Directors since 2014 and has been active in the LRA’s Acadiana chapter for many years.
“The LRA is fortunate to be led by a group of professionals who are actively involved in the restaurant industry, especially after the past year we’ve experienced,” said Stan Harris, LRA president and CEO. “These leaders support their peers by sharing best practices and ideas on how we can make this industry more resilient. Their willingness to volunteer their time and efforts during an extremely difficult business climate is critical to the mission of the LRA.”
The 2021 officers of the LRA:
—Michael Boudreaux, vice chair — a partner in the soon to open SouLa restaurant and co-owner of Juban’s restaurant in Baton Rouge.
—Michael Maenza, secretary — owner of MMI Culinary, Mr. Mudbug’s, 12 Seasons Catering Company and SWEGS Kitchen in New Orleans.
—Alan Guilbeau, treasurer — executive vice president of business development of PJ’s Coffee & Tea of New Orleans and New Orleans Roast Coffee & Tea.
—Mark Latter, at-large — owner of Latter Hospitality including Tujague’s Restaurant, Claret Wine Bar, The Bower, and the soon to open Birdy’s in New Orleans.
Members elected to serve as an LRA director for a one-year term are:
Bayou Chapter:
—Greg Hamer, Taco Bell — B&G Food Enterprises.
—Randy Barrios, Flanagan’s Restaurant and Fremin’s Restaurant.
Acadiana Chapter
—Keith Bond, Mel’s Diner Part II, Lafayette and Broussard.
—Dwight Prudhomme, Republic National Distributing Company.
Greater Baton Rouge Chapter:
—Bruce Attinger, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.
—Michael Boudreaux, SouLa and Juban’s restaurants.
—Michael Carmouche, Ecolab.
—Mickey Freiberg, A La Carte Food Properties.
—Matt Massey, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.
—Peter Sclafani, Down South Hospitality — Phil’s Oyster Bar, Portabello’s, P-Beaus and SouLa restaurant.
—Scott Taylor, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.
Greater New Orleans Chapter:
—Tony Abadie, Jack Rose Restaurant, Hot Tin, Bayou Bar and Silver Whistle.
—Glen Armantrout, Mahony’s Po-boys & Seafood.
—Patrick Brennan, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group.
—Ralph Brennan, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group.
—Geordie Brower, II, Dickie Brennan & Co.
—Katy Casbarian, Arnaud’s and Remoulade restaurants.
—Billy Clark, Galatoire’s Restaurant and Galatoire’s 33 Bar and Steak.
—John Eastman, Auto-Chlor Services.
—Nick Hazard, Crescent Crown Dist-ributing.
—Jason Jones, Sysco.
—John Lalla, Natco Food Service.
—Mark Latter, Claret Wine Bar, The Bower and Tujague’s Restaurant.
—Helen LeBourgeois, TLC Linen Services.
—Michael Maenza, MMI Culinary, Mr. Mudbug’s, 12 Seasons Catering Company and SWEGS Kitchen.
—Octavio Mantilla, BRG Hospitality including August, Borgne, Domenica, Luke, Willa Jean, Shaya, Cho Thai and Pizza Domenica.
—Greg Reggio, Taste Buds Management including Zea Rotisserie & Bar and Semolina’s.
—Melvin Rodrigue, Galatoire’s Restaurant & Galatoire’s 33 Bar and Steak.
—Paul Rotner, Acme Management Group.
—Randy Stein, Mr. B’s Bistro.
—Emery Whalen, QED Hospitality including Jack Rose Restaurant, Hot Tin, Silver Whistle and Bayou Bar.
Northeast
—Darrell Whaley, Taco Bell.
Northshore
—Brian Girardot, Community Coffee.
—Alan Guilbeau, PJ’s Coffee & Tea of New Orleans and New Orleans Roast Coffee & Tea.
—Jake Palmer, Acme Oyster House.
Southwest
—Chauncey Davis, Ben E. Keith Company.
—Rob King, Pitt Grills & Southern Kitchens.
The 2021 LRA chapter presidents are:
—Acadiana Chapter: Randy Daniel.
—Bayou Chapter: Buddy Aucoin.
—Cenla Chapter: Scott Laliberte.
—Greater Baton Rouge Chapter: Jeffrey Conaway .
—Greater New Orleans Chapter: Mark Latter.
—Northeast Chapter: Tara Ambrose.
—Northshore Chapter: Jake Palmer.
—Northwest Chapter: Jason McKinney.
—Southwest Chapter: Ben Ferguson.

The act of love — toward friends or foes — is something the world should strive to do.
That was the message among speakers at the Patterson New Age Civic Organization’s ceremony celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy Monday at Park Street Park. The messages centered around the service’s theme, “What does love have to do with it?”
The event, which began with a walk from City Hall to the park, also featured prayer and song as the late civil rights leader was honored and a call for love and unity was expressed.
“We live in a time where love should be prevalent more than ever,” said the Rev. Jaylan Grogan of St. John Baptist Church in Belle Place, Monday’s keynote speaker. “We live in a time where we are divided by color. We live in a time where we are divided by politics. We live in a time where we are divided by religion, but if anything is going to bring us back together, it’s going to be love.”
Grogan said if people want to live to God’s fulfillment for them, then they must “walk according to love.”
Quoting King, Grogan said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”
Grogan said loving generously is the way love can conquer hate.
Myra Condell of One Faith Fellowship said that while it’s easier to hate your foes, it’s not what God wants.
“We are a people that say that we love God, but we hate our brother and sister,” she said. “We love a God we cannot see with our physical eyes, but we hate the brother that we can see with our physical eyes.”
That, she said, “is a problem” and that hate should cease.
While a COVID-19 vaccine is widely discussed, the Rev. Lee Condelle of One Faith Fellowship said, “Love is the vaccine needed to heal this sin-sick world.”
Love also is something that should be invested in, the Rev. Richelle Castine of Zion Chapel AME Church in Patterson said.
“Why? Because there’s no failure in love,” she said.
Castine noted that King literally made an investment in love with the money he received along with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, using it towards causes of nonviolence and peace.
“A man who traveled, left his family alone, had young children, gave up a monetary price of over $50,000 for the cause he greatly believed in,” she said.
As for the nation, audience member Alfreida Edwards of Franklin, a Democratic State Central Committee member representing portions of St. Mary and St. Martin parishes, said history will be made Wednesday with the inauguration of Kamala Harris as the nation’s first African American vice president.
“It is not just a historic day, but it is a day that a portion of Dr. King’s dream is going to be fulfilled,” she said, explaining that King said character, instead of skin color, is how people should be judged.
However, she and others also addressed the recent attack on the U.S. Capitol, which she called “a great setback” and showed her that the United States is split into two nations: a black one and a white one.
“Separate, hostile and unequal, but we’re going to get there to get things right,” she said.
Condelle said while the act of the participants in the attack was wrong, the love of God, rather than hate, should be shown to those who participated.
Grogan said when Americans learn to love like Jesus, “America will then heal herself.”
He said right now America is not following God’s ways and is “bleeding” greatly.
“We got killings every other week,” he said. “We got officers that we can’t trust. We got a corrupt government, but yet Jesus is on the throne and he’s simply waiting for his people to humble themselves and come unto him.
“He’s waiting for his people to learn how to love in spite of black and white, in spite of Democrat and Republican, in spite of left-wing or right-wing,” Grogan added. “Now, he simply wants us to love one another as he has loved the church.”

Participants in the Patterson New Age Civic Organization’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. event walk down the street named for the late Civil Rights leader on their way to a ceremony held to honor his legacy at Park Street Park Monday.

The Daily Review/Geoff Stoute