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LaFayette celebrated Veterans Day with its first annual Veterans Day Celebration. In the inaugural year, the event saw nearly 100 people gather for a parade followed by a program at the Chambers County Community Health and Wellness Center. 

“[The program] was something that was long overdue. There are 2500 veterans in Chambers County, and I just didn’t feel like we were doing enough….Like everything else that’s going on with the city of LaFayette, we’re always doing things bigger and better, and this was the next step,” said LaFayette Fire/EMS Chief Jim Doody, one of the organizers of the event.

The parade went from Vines Funeral Home to the center. The LaFayette High School marching band and Chambers Academy cheerleaders performed down B Street. Floats and trailers with local veterans and organizations waved to the crowd gathered on the street. 

The grand marshalls for the parade were Rev. James Wright and Sgt. First Class Lyle Blatt, an 88-year-old Korean War veteran and a Vietnam War veteran. 

Doody and LaFayette Police Chief Christopher Trice stopped at the nursing home and assisted living to present the residents who served with a flag and a pin. When DeAnna Hand, director of LaFayette Main Street, pinned a button on one resident the man began to cry. Many followed suit. 

“It choked me up,” Doody said, getting emotional. “It’s just important.”

Once at the Wellness Center, local leaders including Mayor Kenneth Vines spoke. The presentation of colors was done by the Valley High School color guard. The national anthem was sung by Minister Kathy Jones and the pledge was recited by Alfreda Fannings. There were also vendors and organizations that supported veterans inside the Wellness Center. 

Doody introduced the guest speaker saying, “I had the privilege to introduce a very special woman who does a lot for the veterans in our community…. She does a great job keeping the troops together.”

Yvonne Triplett is the Chambers County Veterans Service Officer and retired from the Army. As a service officer, Triplett helps local servicemembers apply for VA benefits, survivors get benefits, educational and dependent compensation and more. 

Triplett recounted how she lost a child to the NEC baby formula recall. She herself spent days on life support. 

“My veterans all came to my office wanting to know where I was, what was wrong and what they could do to help,” she said. “Regardless of service, our service never stops…I’d serve with them still today, regardless of anything.

Organizers and Veterans, Doody, Trice and Rev. Melvin Owens of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church were pinned and thanked for their service as well.