AMY SZPARA

PHOTO 1: HONORING VETERANS, an honor guard presents colors at a Memorial Day breakfast for war veterans hosted by “Get High on Life” early Friday morning. (Staff Photo by Amy Szpara) LAPLACE – “Once a Marine, always a Marine” is a phrase ex-Corps members love to use, but it is not just true of the United States Marine Corps. Members and former members of all of the U.S. service branches can say the same thing, and both service members and veterans alike know the feeling of intermingled pride, nostalgia and respect that washes through the body when their military branch’s song is played. “As the Army goes rolling along,” the words to the Army song, were surely in the minds of those who stood up for the instrumental version of their song Friday morning at a Memorial Day breakfast in LaPlace to honor veterans of war. As they took their seats, Army Air Corps and Air Force veterans rose to the Air Force song. Then, the handful of Marines stood at attention for their song, and afterward the Navy veterans stood for theirs. An emotional morning, Friday’s breakfast brought a room packed with World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans. Harold Keller of “Get High on Life” hosted the event at the LaPlace Holiday Inn to honor those who had risked their lives and the memories of those who had not come back from war. PHOTO 2: PLAYING FOR HEROES, Herman Lemoine, the Rev. Louis Poche and Dr. Roy Carubba play their instruments for the veterans who gathered for a Memorial Day breakfast Friday morning. (Staff Photo by Amy Szpara) Dianna Duffy sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” and an honor guard presented the colors to start the ceremony. As guests ate their breakfast, the band played old songs and religious hymns. Herman Lemoine, the Rev. Louis Poche and Dr. Roy Carubba played their instruments in the corner of the room with old-style charm. To honor those who had not come back from war, Keller read the names of men who gave their lives during World War II. There were 31 from St. John Parish. Twenty-two men from St. James Parish died during World War II, and two prisoners of war were named as well. Two St. James men died in the Korean War. Carubba played “Taps” as the names were read. Roy Dufrene, who was a corporal in the Army during World War II who earned a Bronze Star, said a few words about his experience. “I have no regrets at all. I did all I could to help my country, and I’d do it all again,” he said. “Freedom is not free” seemed to be the theme of the morning, a message every guest in the room had first-hand knowledge of. A reading of “The Forgotten Soldier” reminded the group of another daunting aspect of war. As the morning’s event came to a close, Duffy sang again for the crowd, “I’ll be seeing you in all the old familiar places,” words that filled the room and undoubtedly brought the group back many years. She finished on a patriotic note, singing “America the Beautiful,” and the allegiant assembly joined in to express their loyalty to their country.