Morgan City to have 3rd annual Memorial Day event

After hosting nearly 100 people in a Morgan City Memorial Day observation last year, organizers are looking for even larger crowds Monday for the third annual Memorial Day event at Cypress Park.
The event is scheduled at 10 a.m. and is sponsored by the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce and VFW Post 4222 of Morgan City. Barbeque ribs and sausage picnic lunches prepared by Don and Mata Tellman will be on sale for $7 with the proceeds to help the veterans pay for their VFW membership.
A Sunday morning motorcycle ride and wreath-laying is scheduled to start in Morgan City and proceed to Berwick then Patterson before heading to Charenton and Franklin.
George Rossen, founder of the Legion Riders, said he and his wife began the ride 12 years ago and at times they have had more than 200 motorcycles involved. The riders will start with a stop in Morgan City around 9 a.m. at City Hall and are expected to arrive at 9:45 a.m. in Berwick.
Two years ago Lisa Patterson spearheaded an organized Memorial Day event when she returned to her hometown of Morgan City after living in Ohio for many years. She said upon her return to Morgan City she was disappointed to see there was no organized recognition of veterans who have given their life in service of their country.
Last year, after the second Memorial Day celebration, she said she was pleased to see the event grow in size from the year before and that the citizens of Morgan City were honoring the memory of those who died in service to the country.
Patterson, now marketing director of the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce, is excited to see even more people recognizing the importance of the annual observation and that the chamber is now a sponsor of the event along with VFW Post 4222.
“We need to give honor and remembrance to our veterans throughout the country who have sacrificed their lives,” Patterson said. While people often expand the Memorial Day recognition to all veterans who have and are serving, she hopes that those who have died for their country will always have a day that is distinctly in their honor, she said.
Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi will welcome people to this year’s event. Capt. David McClellan, U.S. Coast Guard Marine and Safety Unit commander, will be this year’s guest speaker.
Grizzaffi said, “The Chamber of Commerce and the VFW should be given credit for getting this organized. … I think it is important that the city be part of this event. Our city has had a large contingent of people that have given their lives for their country.”
Patterson said she and Shermon Whiting, quartermaster for VFW Post 4222 and District 3 VFW commander, worked together to organize the event.
As the program concludes, the Rev. Greg Fratt from Sacred Heart Catholic Church will bless the ground for the Fallen Warrior Memorial that will be erected at Cypress Park. A ceremonial ground breaking will take place for the Fallen Warriors Memorial.
Fundraising continues for the memorial. Terry Mayon, one of the organizers for the project, said at least $90,000 has been raised so far. Grizzaffi said the statue for the memorial will cost about $90,000 and the project will run about $130,000.