Community members gathered at the LSU War Memorial on Memorial Day to honor those who served in wars passed, and pay special tribute to alumnus Lt. Michael “Scotty” Lamana.
Lamana was killed in the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon, where he served as a briefer for the naval operations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The University added Lamana’s name to the War Memorial and unveiled it to family and friends during the annual Memorial Day ceremony.
Any LSU alumni who has died and served in the military in conflicts from World War II on, will have his name placed on the wall.
The Cadets of the Ole War Skule coordinated the event, and director of Student Life, Randy Gurie organized.
Gurie said the ceremony usually lasts about five minutes, but was extended this year in honor of Lamana. A luncheon followed at the Faculty club.
Lamana graduated in political science at LSU, then participated in the Navy ROTC program at Southern University.
Both Southern and LSU color-guard marched in the ceremony.
Several University officials spoke, as well as congressmen Richard Baker, John H. Dalton, former Secretary of the Navy, and Lamana’s father, Mike Lamana.
LSU System President William Jenkins welcomed attendees and read a poem titled, “Freedom is not free.”
“[The ceremony] was extraordinary, the depth of feeling and pride, but [it was] still so terribly sad,” Jenkins said. “He is honored here today, but now also for eternity.”
Dalton said Memorial Day is a time to pause to remember those who lost their lives while serving their country.
He also asked the crowd to remember Sept. 11, and remember the United States needs to remain a united country.
Many friends of the Lamana family came out to show support.
Baton Rouge residents James and Bessie Calmes said they attended the ceremony in support of Lamana’s father, who is their pharmacist at Albertsons.
Bessie Calmes has two sons in the military, and said Mike Lamana hung her two son’s pictures in the window of the pharmacy while they were serving in Iraq.
“Its truly humbling that all these people came out today,” Mike Lamana said.