Veterans honored at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home Parade

BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home honored its residents with a Veterans Day parade this morning, celebrating the service of 140 veterans living at the facility.

The parade was organized as a way to express gratitude not only to the home’s residents but to all who have served in the military. The staff collaborated with local schools and organizations to make the event possible.

“I wish we could celebrate them every single day, and we try our best,” said Karen Steadman, Marketing Director of the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home. “But, this time of year, we just do a big blowout and make sure that they all know how much we love them.”

Mary Thomas, who served for nine years in the United States Air Force, expressed her appreciation for the recognition of women veterans during the parade. “I really appreciated the Women’s Veterans of the ArkLaTex coming and, you know, appreciating us. I got a hug from the President of the Women’s Veterans, and that meant a lot,” she said.

Jackie Rowe, a Vietnam War veteran who was drafted into the United States Army, emphasized the importance of honoring those who gave their lives in service to their country. “I didn’t want to dishonor those who have served and have died in service and in the war,” Rowe stated. “I felt like if they had done that, I would want to honor them. I got drafted, and I wanted to take it and just go on in.”

The parade served as a heartfelt tribute to the veterans at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home, highlighting the community’s appreciation for their service and sacrifices.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTAL. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTAL staff before being published.