By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – With Christmas day nearly here, take a moment to think about those men and women who have given so much to ensure generations of safe holiday celebrations.

The staff at L’Observateur has forged a partnership with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Young Marines Program to create a unique gift-giving program for the men and women at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve. The newspaper office will be accepting donations of toiletries, books, travel games, cards and assorted art supplies including canvass, acrylic paints, brushes and colored pencils, to give to residents at the home.

Lt. Brian Bertrand of the St. John Sheriff’s Office, the unit commander for the Young Marines, said his group of young boys and girls are all ready and willing to do their part to help the residents of the home.

“The kids love going over there because the residents come out of the woodwork to see them,” Bertrand said. “Some of the members of my platoon have become great friends with some of the residents.”

Bertrand said many residents at the home are left with little or no other family and the companionship of regular visitors can go a long way to boosting morale.

The newspaper will continue to collect community donations for the program through Monday. On Wednesday, members of the staff and the Young Marines will deliver the goods to the residents of the home. All donations can be brought to the office, located at 116 Newspaper Drive in LaPlace, just behind Destiny Christian Center on Main Street. The office is open until 5 p.m.