The Baton Rouge mayor’s office launched a new ‘Veteran of the Week’ program to recognize local veterans and elevate their stories.
Mayor-President Sid Edwards and the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs announced the program earlier this month.
“Anything I can do to showcase the veterans that we have here; we’ve got almost 20,000 veterans,” said Elena Branzaru, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and the chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs. “For me, this was just a no-brainer.”
Each week, a different veteran will be featured on Edwards’ official social media platforms, highlighting their service for the community.
“Sometimes people don’t want to tell their stories. They’re a little humble,” Branzaru said. “Our goal is for various submissions, different branches of service.”
Veterans and their family members are encouraged to submit photographs, narratives or personal reflections of their military service or life experience.
Branzaru said the program is meant to catch stories before they disappear. She pointed to a recent encounter with Marines veteran Charles Holdeman.
Branzaru said she went to Holdeman’s 99th birthday and learned he was at the Battle of Iwo Jima and saw the raising of the Iwo Jima flag.
“We have literally what I call hidden heroes in Baton Rouge,” Branzaru said. “Nobody in his family understood the incredible significance.”
Grant Schadeberg, program director of the William A. Brookshire Military & Veterans Student Center at LSU, said the weekly recognition could encourage veterans and their families to share stories more often than beyond major holidays like Veterans Day or Memorial Day.
“Words, in my opinion, are not enough. To really honor our veterans, this needs to be done with actions. I think this is a great way to do it,” Schadeberg said.
All veterans recognized during each quarter will be invited to be honored with a certificate of recognition at a Metropolitan Council meeting.
“Understand that not every veteran had the same experience. Let the veteran determine how they want their information shared,” Schadeberg said.
For additional information or to receive submission details, contact [email protected].
