Latest news with #TheWallThatHeals'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Traveling Vietnam veteran memorial leaves mark in the Upstate
PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A traveling memorial honoring Vietnam veterans was on display at The Deerwood Farms in Liberty from May 15th-May18th. 'The Wall That Heals' was open 24 hours a day for everyone to visit, reflect and remember Vietnam war heroes. It left a lasting impact on Debbie Hayes who told 7NEWS a childhood friend of hers passed away in the Vietnam war. Hayes said she was able to find her friend's name on the wall. She said he was 20 years old when he was killed. 'When you know somebody and you see the name is just heart wrenching, it really is,' said Hayes. The memorial was chock-full of the names of more than 58,000 men and women who served and gave their lives in the Vietnam War, as well as those who are still missing. The memorial is a replica of the 'Vietnam Veterans Memorial' in Washington DC, which sees around 5.6 million visitors every year, according to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Organizers told 7NEWS the wall had been displayed in nearly 800 communities across the nation and is funded through donations. 'My husband was in the draft and almost had to go himself when he was 18. So, when you realize the men on this wall are 18, 19,20,21.. for him not to come home, it's not something you'd ever expect,' Hayes added. Representatives with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund said they chose to bring the wall to Pickens County because of the strong representation of veterans in the area. Volunteers were on site to help visitors find specific names on the wall if they requested. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Remarkable Women: Louisiana woman hopes to inspire next generation of accountants
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Bridget Kaigler is the first woman of color to become chair of the Society of Louisiana CPAs in its 113-year history. Before taking on her new leadership role, she worked on the state and local tax committees. Kaigler's journey in the accounting world started over 15 years ago as a way to care for her son. She's proud of herself for not letting her struggles or challenges stop her from chasing her dreams and creating a legacy. 'I encourage my son to also enter the accounting profession. He is three years post-grad and he is an accountant as well. So just creating this family legacy of accountants is, I think, is remarkable in itself,' Kaigler said. She is also a Capital Region 500 winner. Kaigler said although awards aren't everything, she wants the next generation to know that success is attainable. 'It's important too for individuals to see where you are today. But I think it's most important for people to know where you started because it's truly, it's truly a long-distance race,' Kaigler said. Remarkable Women: Sashika Baunchand's organization mentors young Louisiana girls Kaigler's mission is to show students there are endless opportunities under the accounting umbrella. She travels statewide to speak to college students in accounting courses and young kids grades K-12. 'All of those teachable moments and mentors and people that inspire me. I'm glad to be in to be able to pay that forward and inspire others,' Kaigler said. She said there's room for everyone in the accounting world. Remarkable Women: Baton Rouge mom helps other parents after losing son to rare disorder Remarkable Women: Louisiana woman hopes to inspire next generation of accountants National Weather Service could face potential cuts amid workforce layoffs 'The Wall That Heals' arrives in Baton Rouge, honoring Vietnam veterans East Baton Rouge Parish students take a stand against underage drinking Louisiana executes death row inmate Jessie Hoffman using nitrogen gas Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘The Wall That Heals' arrives in Baton Rouge, honoring Vietnam veterans
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A powerful tribute to Vietnam veterans made its way through Baton Rouge, accompanied by the roar of motorcycles. The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, arrived with a special escort, offering the community a moving opportunity to honor the lives lost in the war. The journey began at O'Neal Lane and concluded at Life Tabernacle Church, where the wall will remain on display until Sunday. Among those leading the escort was ride captain and veteran Paul Ledut, who shared what the moment meant to him. 'The wall means a lot to me. I have a lot of friends who are on the wall also,' Ledut said. 'This ride is about showing honor and respect for the Vietnam vets and those who never made it home.' The replica, which features nearly 60,000 names of fallen service members, also includes a mobile education center. Team member Tim Tetz explained how the exhibit connects with local communities. 'We're going to show those from this parish and surrounding parishes who are on the wall—their names, their photographs, their stories,' Tetz said. Visitors will have the opportunity to reflect, heal, and pay tribute to those who served. For many, the experience is deeply personal. 'You might be remembering a family member you lost,' Tetz said. 'Or you might learn something about the Vietnam War that you were never taught in school or told by your loved ones.' Organizers said The Wall That Heals serves as a powerful reminder of sacrifice, service, and the importance of never forgetting our nation's heroes. Remarkable Women: Louisiana woman hopes to inspire next generation of accountants National Weather Service could face potential cuts amid workforce layoffs 'The Wall That Heals' arrives in Baton Rouge, honoring Vietnam veterans East Baton Rouge Parish students take a stand against underage drinking Louisiana executes death row inmate Jessie Hoffman using nitrogen gas Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
East Baton Rouge Parish students take a stand against underage drinking
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — As spring break approaches, several East Baton Rouge Parish students are taking a stand to prevent underage drinking. One of those students, Carmello Daigre, a junior at Istrouma High School, believes underage drinking is an issue that needs to be addressed. 'Underage kids are drinking, partying and thinking that is okay and cool, but that's not something that we should be doing,' he said. 'It can mess with our brain, our body and our mind.' Daigre, along with other students who serve as leaders, participated in an awareness call to action at the Rouses Market on Florida Boulevard on Tuesday. They placed stickers on alcohol aisles as part of the Project Sticker Shock program. The initiative serves as a reminder to adults that purchasing alcohol for minors is not only illegal but shouldn't be done. 'No adult should be handing kids drinks telling them they should drink it,' he said. Dawn Chanet Collins, prevention coordinator at Capital Area Human Services, explained that Baton Rouge students are not the only ones who take part in this prevention program, but also students in other surrounding parishes. She hopes the initiative will encourage teens to make responsible decisions, especially concerning alcohol and addiction. 'It's harder for those who have an addiction in their youth to overcome that addiction,' she said.'They don't need to cheat themselves and set themselves up for a harder life experience by starting early.' Remarkable Women: Louisiana woman hopes to inspire next generation of accountants National Weather Service could face potential cuts amid workforce layoffs 'The Wall That Heals' arrives in Baton Rouge, honoring Vietnam veterans East Baton Rouge Parish students take a stand against underage drinking Louisiana executes death row inmate Jessie Hoffman using nitrogen gas Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
National Weather Service could face potential cuts amid workforce layoffs
SLIDELL, La. (Louisiana First) — The National Weather Service (NWS) plays a crucial role in ensuring public safety, providing weather forecasts, warnings, and all-hazard alerts. Lauren Nash, a meteorologist with the NWS in Southeast Louisiana, highlighted the importance of the service in everyday life. 'Really, the foundation of almost all meteorology, a lot of the weather you see, and all hazard alerts are coming from us,' Nash said. 'We see the importance of NWS every day. People often don't realize how much we're doing until the bad weather hits.' From tornado and hurricane warnings to dense fog advisories and extreme heat alerts, Nash pointed out that the NWS is responsible for keeping people informed, especially during dangerous weather events. 'Those cell phone alerts saying 'take shelter'—that's us. We're here 24/7, 365 days a year,' she added. However, recent concerns have surfaced regarding the potential impact of staffing cuts at the NWS. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, reportedly plans to lay off approximately 10% of its workforce, which could affect more than a thousand employees and potentially impact forecasting. A Republican member of Congress commented on the cuts, saying, 'He's helping us uncover all the spending and letting us know where the waste is.' Despite the uncertainty, Nash emphasized that the NWS' work goes beyond just weather alerts. 'If you've flown recently, the weather observation and forecast for clearance were provided by the NWS. If that observation goes down, our technicians fix it. If those forecasts go down, planes don't fly,' said Nash. Nash also highlighted the NWS' support for first responders, particularly in emergencies such as the recent California wildfires. 'We work with first responders, coordinating efforts to ensure public safety,' she said. Even with potential job cuts, Nash reassures that NWS' commitment to public safety remains a top priority. 'If something happens to our office, neighboring offices like Mobile, Lake Charles, or Jacksonville can take over,' Nash said. She concluded by expressing her confidence in the agency's strength. 'The NWS is a strong agency,' she said. 'I will support any office, near or far, if cuts affect my colleagues. Public safety will always come first.' Remarkable Women: Louisiana woman hopes to inspire next generation of accountants National Weather Service could face potential cuts amid workforce layoffs 'The Wall That Heals' arrives in Baton Rouge, honoring Vietnam veterans East Baton Rouge Parish students take a stand against underage drinking Louisiana executes death row inmate Jessie Hoffman using nitrogen gas Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
