Vermilion Parish War Memorial beautified

The Vermilion Parish War Memorial, located in downtown Abbeville, commemorates the sacrifices of so many.
Recently, a joint effort among the Abbeville Garden Club, Keep Abbeville Beautiful (KAB) and the city of Abbeville led to improvements befitting the memorial’s existence.
Members of the Garden Club upgraded the flower bed as well as the 1841 Howitzer Cannon at the memorial. Garden Club member Ron Bell worked with the Kiwanis Club of Abbeville to have new wheels placed on the cannon. Many who attended the Memorial Day service on Monday morning took notice.
“We have received a positive response,” Garden Club President Susan Doré said.
The memorial includes a Gold Star marker, placed by the Garden Club on this day 10 years ago. That installation resulted from an initiative from the National Garden Club.
“That is a big part of why we have worked to keep up the bed,” Doré explained.
She said this work, spearheaded by Garden Club member Gwen Lanoux and Bell, began about a year ago. Part of that is incorporating a Red, White, and Blue color scheme with the flowers in recognition of the upcoming 250th Anniversary of the United States.
“They did a great job,” Doré said.
Charlene Beckett, who, in addition to being a member of KAB, serves as Abbeville Main Street manager, said she is thrilled by the outcome.
“The Vermilion Parish War Memorial flower beds, which we refer to as the Liberty Garden, have never looked better,” Beckett said. “This and all the other flower beds in the city, either cared for by the Garden Club or the city workers, help define our community as a caring place to live, work, or play.”
Beckett thanked the Garden Club members for their efforts.
:The Abbeville Garden Club enriches our community by beautifying our public spaces and encouraging civic pride,” Beckett said. “They do this with volunteer service and through education within their organization, and also sharing their talents with others.”