|
|
|
After 200 years as a state, Louisiana has more to offer the country than championship caliber football or reality TV shows. Louisiana has a culture that makes it perhaps one of the most unique states.
Lt. Gen. Russell Honoré addressed political and business leaders in Lake Charles in a breakfast sponsored by the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau. Louisiana is celebrating its bicentennial in 2012, having officially been added to the union on April 30, 1812. Throughout the state there will be special events to mark the 200th birthday.
“We will use this year to promote education. We have a release of books teachers can use in the classroom. The books integrate our history into the curriculum from third grade to 12th,” Honoré said. The books are available with a syllabus — ready to go. They are available to any school in the state and to home schools. We’ve partnered with LPB. They will be producing a documentary for the public or the schools, and it can be purchased, as well.”
The Louisiana Legislature had no funds to give for the celebration, so Honoré appealed to every individual and business to give to the Bicentennial Fund.
The Louisiana Bicentennial Commission has raised about $850,000 to stage events and pay for promotional material. The money spent so far has gone to finance educational programs and materials on the state’s 200-year history in elementary and high schools, paying for a Louisiana Public Broadcasting documentary and 60-second commercials on the statehood bicentennial as well as traveling exhibits that will go to museums, libraries, schools and visitor and convention bureaus.
“We have items from crystal to shotguns as memorabilia for the special year; a CD with Louisiana music of all sorts will be available; a commemorative postal stamp will be released in the spring with plans for a souvenir poster,” said Honoré.
He urged the audience to go to the website and help financially support the cause. The official website is www.louisianabicentennial2012.com.
The general encouraged everyone to visit the web sites available to learn about the activities planned throughout the state for 2012.
“We will be centering on family. We want to encourage those who’ve left the state to come back to be with family, to bring them back to visit this year as a part of a way to bring them back, show them how well we’re doing in Louisiana right now and hopefully bring them back permanently,” Honoré said. He continued to note the benefits to the state this year could bring.
“Hopefully we’ll leave a legacy in this year to build opportunities for our kids in building education. Our state is a significant contribution to the United States of America. The importance of the state to the country is our natural resources of gas and oil; our seafood; our shipping industry. The first gas used by New York came out of Louisiana.
“We have poverty to deal with, but the answer to poverty is education. The solution is to provide more opportunities for work, take care of families and take advantage of everything this state has to offer,” he continued.
Honoré concluded his speech with a video of Country music star Toby Keith, “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American).”
He then said, “I’m proud to be a Louisianian; I’m proud to be back home. Nowhere else in the United States has the diversity of culture we have here.”
Matt Young, executive director of the Southwest Louisiana Arts and Humanities Council, announced the southwest Louisiana bicentennial events. This spring is when it all begins, with a Celebration Street party on March 31 to highlight the Margaret Place historic district.
In May, state Poet Laureate, Julie Kane, will be reading a series of poems specifically commissioned to illustrate our Southwest Louisiana identity and way of life. The activities are almost endless and include many facets of Louisiana culture. Honoré had noted in his talk a fact every Louisiana citizen knows.
“Now it’s one thing we know in Louisiana how to do is to throw a party. Matter in fact people come from around the world to watch us and to celebrate in Mardi Gras and other festivals we have around the state and have a good time, so this shouldn’t be a hard thing to do,” Young said.
Honoré is a native of Lakeland. He has had a lengthy military career that has taken him around the world, from Korea to Germany and the entire United States.
Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Agriculture from Southern University and A&M College, in 1971, Honoré was then commissioned a second lieutenant and began his career in uniform as an infantry officer.
When New Orleans needed a strong leader after Hurricane Katrina, Honoré was called in. He became the Commander of relief effort in New Orleans. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin during that state of emergency called Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré a “John Wayne dude” who can “get some stuff done.”
After 200 years as a state, Louisiana has more to offer the country than championship caliber football or reality TV shows. Louisiana has a culture that makes it perhaps one of the most unique states.
Lt. Gen. Russell Honoré addressed political and business leaders in Lake Charles in a breakfast sponsored by the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau. Louisiana is celebrating its bicentennial in 2012, having officially been added to the union on April 30, 1812. Throughout the state there will be special events to mark the 200th birthday.
“We will use this year to promote education. We have a release of books teachers can use in the classroom. The books integrate our history into the curriculum from third grade to 12th,” Honoré said. The books are available with a syllabus — ready to go. They are available to any school in the state and to home schools. We’ve partnered with LPB. They will be producing a documentary for the public or the schools, and it can be purchased, as well.”
The Louisiana Legislature had no funds to give for the celebration, so Honoré appealed to every individual and business to give to the Bicentennial Fund.
The Louisiana Bicentennial Commission has raised about $850,000 to stage events and pay for promotional material. The money spent so far has gone to finance educational programs and materials on the state’s 200-year history in elementary and high schools, paying for a Louisiana Public Broadcasting documentary and 60-second commercials on the statehood bicentennial as well as traveling exhibits that will go to museums, libraries, schools and visitor and convention bureaus.
“We have items from crystal to shotguns as memorabilia for the special year; a CD with Louisiana music of all sorts will be available; a commemorative postal stamp will be released in the spring with plans for a souvenir poster,” said Honoré.
He urged the audience to go to the website and help financially support the cause. The official website is www.louisianabicentennial2012.com.
The general encouraged everyone to visit the web sites available to learn about the activities planned throughout the state for 2012.
“We will be centering on family. We want to encourage those who’ve left the state to come back to be with family, to bring them back to visit this year as a part of a way to bring them back, show them how well we’re doing in Louisiana right now and hopefully bring them back permanently,” Honoré said. He continued to note the benefits to the state this year could bring.
“Hopefully we’ll leave a legacy in this year to build opportunities for our kids in building education. Our state is a significant contribution to the United States of America. The importance of the state to the country is our natural resources of gas and oil; our seafood; our shipping industry. The first gas used by New York came out of Louisiana.
“We have poverty to deal with, but the answer to poverty is education. The solution is to provide more opportunities for work, take care of families and take advantage of everything this state has to offer,” he continued.
Honoré concluded his speech with a video of Country music star Toby Keith, “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American).”
He then said, “I’m proud to be a Louisianian; I’m proud to be back home. Nowhere else in the United States has the diversity of culture we have here.”
Matt Young, executive director of the Southwest Louisiana Arts and Humanities Council, announced the southwest Louisiana bicentennial events. This spring is when it all begins, with a Celebration Street party on March 31 to highlight the Margaret Place historic district.
In May, state Poet Laureate, Julie Kane, will be reading a series of poems specifically commissioned to illustrate our Southwest Louisiana identity and way of life. The activities are almost endless and include many facets of Louisiana culture. Honoré had noted in his talk a fact every Louisiana citizen knows.
“Now it’s one thing we know in Louisiana how to do is to throw a party. Matter in fact people come from around the world to watch us and to celebrate in Mardi Gras and other festivals we have around the state and have a good time, so this shouldn’t be a hard thing to do,” Young said.
Honoré is a native of Lakeland. He has had a lengthy military career that has taken him around the world, from Korea to Germany and the entire United States.
Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Agriculture from Southern University and A&M College, in 1971, Honoré was then commissioned a second lieutenant and began his career in uniform as an infantry officer.
When New Orleans needed a strong leader after Hurricane Katrina, Honoré was called in. He became the Commander of relief effort in New Orleans. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin during that state of emergency called Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré a “John Wayne dude” who can “get some stuff done.”
