Grand Promenade
8 - 10 July 2011
Lafayette, LA
Cajun Link - 40 & 8 - Louisiana
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Friday, 8 July 2011
Harold Burson, Eldon & Bea Guidry, Terry Sharp, James R. JohnsonGrand Aumonier Charley Parent and FrancesAnn & Charlie AucoinHarold and Ron DeshotelGrand Aumonier-to-be Ray & Jean Blanchard. They love to dance!
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Grand Chef de Gare Don Schreiber is ready to open the sessionSous Grand Correspondant Dudley LeBlanc and Grand Correspondant Hank Kwiatkowski are ready for businessChef de Chemin de Fer Hank Kwiatkowski presents the Memorial WreathGrand Aumonier Charley Parent will present the Memorial ServiceA miniature train serves as the visual prop for the Memorial. It will have pennants placed on it for each of the Voitures that have lost Voyageurs since the 2010 Grand PromenadeChef de Gare "Red" Miller hands a pennant for Voiture 1351 to Grand Chef de Gare Don Schreiber to be placed on the train.The train is carrying 15 pennants representing 50 Voyageurs who have died since Grand Promenade 2010. It will move out and will not stop until it arrives at the heavenly destination.Donna Fransen-Miller is Chef de Gare of Voiture 201 and the National Sous Directeur of Public RelationsCommissaire Intendant Cliff Kershaw is also Grand Directeur of Nurses Training. Archie Boyette is National Sous Directeur of Special Awards.Visiting in the AtriumCarl A. Barr, National Aumonier and Grand Historien/Grand L'EditeurCharley Parent has served as Grand Aumonier since 1986. He has decided to retire after only 24 years! His successor will be Ray Blanchard of Voiture 1038Elton Bourque is Past Grand Chef de Gare 1984-85. He is currently serving Voiture 1577 as Correspondant. Elton has been missing from Grand Promenades for several years. Welcome back!Paul Landry, Elton Bourque, Carl A. Barr, Harold DeshotelHero of the Year Corey & Shannon Cummings, Law Officer of the Year Richard & Vivian Porter, Directeur of Americanism Milton HarrisonChef de Chemin de Fer Hank Kwiatkowski and Grand Chef de Gare (to be) Kenneth LaFleur posed with our special guestsMagnets procuced by Megan and Jessica, daughters of Ray & Jean Blanchard. They have offered the magnets for sale as a fund raiser to benefit the Nurses Training ProgramRay Blanchard with daughters Megan and Jessica. Both are Registered Nurses, Jessica benefited from the 40 & 8 Nurses Training Program, and both wanted to give something back.
Sunday, 10 July 2010
The session has not even begun, but Grand Gard de la Port Gil Lovelady is already collecting a fine from Grand Drapeau Don ValleryThe plaques were laid out on the table with careGrand Chef de Gare Don Schreiber can hardly wait to be fired!Grand Aumonier Charley Parent spread the Altar Cloth for the last time. Grand Chef de Train Charlie Aucoin affixed the POW/MIA banner to thre empty chairOur special guests are on the front rowMilton Harrison at the podium to introduce the Law Officer of the Year Richard PorterLaw Officer of the Year Richard Porter, Caddo Sheriff Deputy is congratulated by Grand Chef de Gare Don SchreiberMilton Harrison introduced the Hero of the YIear Corey Cummings, EMT of the Shreveport Fire DepartmentEMT Cummings received the plaque from Grand Chef de Gare Don SchreiberEMT Corey Cummings, Hero of the Year. He has also been named as the National Hero of the Year 2011, the award to be presented at Vancouver in SeptemberCongratulations and thanks to our special guests before they departJohnny Keel accepts Membership Award for V. 274J. R. Johnson accepted Membership Award and Box Car Award for V. 1588.Dennis Engdahl accepted several awards for V. 137, including Membership, Attendance, Americanism, Box Car, Nurses Training, Child Welfare, Voiture ActivitiesDennis Engdahl holds the Voiture 137 Scrapbook that is the 1st Place winner in Grande de la Louisianne. The Scrapbook, shown in the photo above, is the work of Historien Shawn Bohannon; it will be submitted to National for judging.Michael Peats accepted Voiture of the Year 2011 for Voiture 224, plus several other awards including Membership, Box Car, Americanism, Child Welfare, Voiture Activities.Ray Blanchard accepted awards for V 1038, including Attendance, Americanism, Child Welfare, Flags for 1st Graders, Nurses Training

Dick Jakubiak accepted Nurses Training award for Voiture 309Doc Lafleur has been elected, but before he can be sworn in as Chef de Gare, he is accosted by the infamous Gard de la Port Gil Lovelady. That's a wallet in Ken's hand, ready to pay up, whatever the fine is for.Dr. Kenneth Lafleur is taking the oath of office as Chef de GarePaul Landry, Chef de Chemin de Fer 1992, administers the oath of office, including some special admonitions of his own. Past Chef de Gare Don Schreiber is shouting a big "Hallelujah" to himselfOfficers line up for the oath: Stuart LeGendre, Alex Gueho, Gil Lovelady, Dennis Engdahl, Richard Jakubiak, James R. Johnson, Dan Leonard, Milton Harrison, Don Vallery, Johnny Keel"I present the officers you have chosen to lead this organization for the next year"That's the way to go--always leave 'em laughingChef Landry presents the Past Chef de Gare pin to Past Grand Chef de Gare Don SchreiberLandry puts his NEW chapeau on Grand Chef de Gare Ken LafleurThat looks GREAT!Look again!The real Chapeau looks betterGrand Chef de Gare Kenneth LafleurRay Blanchard presented a special "Grill & Chill" apron to Ken Lafleur in recognition of Ken's participation in the event which was a fund raiser cookout.Doc was a willing model for the new apronMilton Harrison received the Grand Voyageur of the Year award from Grand Chef de Gare Don Schreiber. He was later told that he had been selected as National VOYNational Voyageurs of the Year: Hank Kwiatkowski 2006, Milton Harrison 2011, Archie Boyette 2009