OPELOUSAS, La.(KLFY) – Each brick in the St. Landry Veterans Memorial pathway is engraved with a name and a legacy and those bricks are the reason thousands across Acadiana remembered those who put their life on the line for our freedom. It was a busy day Monday for the St. Landry Parish Veterans Memorial, as many stopped by to pay their respects to the fallen heroes of Acadiana. Over the weekend, committee members laid new brick dedications to the memorial path, just in time for Memorial Day. Project Chairman Pat Mason-Guillory said the memorial is a small token of the communities appreciation.

“We are so grateful this memorial is a reality because as a nation, as a people, we must never forget, we must never forget.”

This year the committee teamed up with the Opelousas Community Choir for a special Memorial Day program. The choir sang a patriotic musical titled “I Love America”. Choir Director Jamie Green said the choir was eager to participate.

“We just felt that we needed to do something to honor them. We had such a nice venue out here and Mrs. Mason-Guillory was so willing to open it up to us, so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

Green said it was an honor to sing for those who selflessly gave their life for our country.

“It’s so humbling that people who don’t know me are willing to sacrifice their freedoms and their lives to protect mine.”

If you would like to dedicate a brick to a fallen hero or veteran, contact the St. Landry Veterans Memorial Committee. Applications for brick engravements are accepted year round.