NEW ORLEANS GENEALOGISTS

 

The population of southeast Louisiana provides a rich source for genealogy studies.  However the relocations associated with Katrina has adversley affected the local community of genealogists. 
As one step to help rebuild our community, a Facebook group named the Greater New Orleans Genealogical Group has been created with the following purpose.

"The purpose of this group is to promote regional genealogy discussion in several ways. Local genealogy groups are invited to post information about themselves including meeting times and locations. Individuals can post questions which might be answered by other members. Researchers may share tips and sites for others. Sponsors can publicize events and meetings that may be or interest.
The parishes this site targets includes Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany and Washington. Other parishes are welcome to participate."

We are just getting started and we welcome any suggestions that would improve the concept.
Members of the West Bank Genealogical Society are invited to join this group.  Just type the group name in the Facebook search box and then select join.  Please inform your members about this group and encourage then to participate.

I am a board member of the Jefferson Genealogical Society and JGS supports this effort.
Frank Bordelon

BREAUX GRAND REVEIL ACADIEN

Acadian Awakening
(Grand Reveil Acadien) www.gra2011.org
     Events will be held across south Louisiana from October 7 – 16, 2011. 

Tentative agenda:
Fri. & Sat., Oct. 7 & 8, 2011 – New Orleans, LA
Sun. & Mon. Oct. & 10, 2011 – Houma, LA
Tues & Wed, Oct 11&12, 2011 – Lake Charles, LA
Thurs. – Sun., Oct. 13-16, 2011 – Lafayette, LA

The finale for activities will be a French Mass, Acadian Processional, and closing ceremonies held in conjunction with the Festivals Acadiens et Creoles to be held in GirardPark on October 14-16.  For festival details, check out their website at http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/. 

Breaux du Monde activities:
Thursday, October 13: Cajundome, Lafayette, LA
     Between 9:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.
        Visit our Breaux du Monde table on the second floor.  Meet family and request assistance with your Breaux genealogy.
Saturday, October 15:  Breaux Bridge, LA

     8:00 – 9:45 a.m. – Join us for breakfast at the St. Bernard Catholic Church Parish Hall,
204 North Main Street, Breaux Bridge, LA.

     Cost:  $5 per person paid at the door
     PLEASE RSVP by October 1: 
Gayle B. Smith, 7251 Palmetto Drive, Baton Rouge, LA70808, 225/766-8970, or email breauxdumonde@cox.net
     Meet family and listen to Breaux family presentation.

     10:00 – Mass honoring Vincent Brault descendants at St. Bernard Catholic Church and paying homage to our Breaux family saint, Blessed Marie-Leonie Paradis.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow (1)
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae: In Flanders Fields (1915)

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Canadian poet John McCrae was a medical officer in both the Boer War and World War I. A year into the latter war he published in Punch magazine, on December 8, 1915, the sole work by which he would be remembered. This poem commemorates the deaths of thousands of young men who died in Flanders during the grueling battles there. It created a great sensation, and was used widely as a recruiting tool, inspiring other young men to join the Army. Legend has it that he was inspired by seeing the blood-red poppies blooming in the fields where many friends had died. In 1918 McCrae died at the age of 46, in the way most men died during that war, not from a bullet or bomb, but from disease: pneumonia, in his case.

http://public.wsu.edu/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_2/mccrae.html