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July 2017 marks an important date in the life of Cajun Music Legend DL Menard, and his hometown of Erath is planning a celebration.
Fifty-five years ago this July, Menard released his biggest hit, "The Back Door" ("La Porte En Arrière").
The Erath 4th of July Celebration is having a “Tribute to DL Menard” to celebrate the life of its favorite son and his famous song, “The Back Door.” The tribute will be held on Sunday, July 2nd at 6:30 PM on the festival bandstand in downtown Erath. The celebration is open to the public. All of Menard’s fans are urged to attend this worthy event.
The tribute will feature the honoree performing with the Jambalaya Cajun Band. Several of Menard’s family members will join him on stage to perform many of his well-known hits. This will be the first time all of the Menards perform together. Joining him on stage will be three of his children: Larry and Dick Menard and Rebecca Menard Moreland; and six of his grandchildren: Nelda Menard Pontiff, Brandon, Joshua, Jeremy, Josiah, and Nathan Menard. In addition to the music, Erath 4th of July Association President Robert B. Vincent, Acadian Museum founder Warren Perrin, Erath Mayor John E. LeBlanc, Jambalaya’s Terry Huval, and Lafayette artist Tony Bernard will each make a special presentation to Menard.
The Acadian Museum of Erath will unveil a new, expanded exhibit on DL Menard as part of the celebration. The exhibit, entitled "Revisiting the Life of DL Menard - The Cajun Hank Williams," will include various photos and mementos from Menard’s storied life. The exhibit will be unveiled to the public at 5:30 PM and the museum will remain open until the tribute begins.
In 1962, Menard was working at a gas station one block away from the Erath 4th of July Celebration fairgrounds. He had a notebook in his pocket and would write a few lines to a song in between pumping gas and fixing flat tires. Menard and the Louisiana Aces recorded that song in July 1962. “The Back Door” became an instant hit and has sold over a half million copies. Its popularity has endured. The song is the most played and most recorded Cajun music song of all time, according to Cajun folklorist Dr. Barry Ancelet. When Rolling Stone magazine ranked the 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time in 2014, “The Back Door” made the list at number 72.
Menard has spent the past half-century touring the world and sharing his Cajun music and humor. He has become an ambassador of Cajun music and culture. Along the way, he has received many awards. He is a two-time Grammy nominee. He has been inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and the Cajun Music Hall of Fame. In 1993, Menard and his "Louisiana Aces" band received the Times Music Award. In 1994, he received The National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, their highest honor, along with ten thousand dollars, which was presented to him by then First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. He has also been inducted into the Order of Living Legends by the Acadian Museum of Erath.
DL Menard is the only citizen in Erath who has had busloads of people drive up to his home to see him, sit in his rocking chairs under an oak tree and listen to music that has delighted the world for 55 years. The people of Erath and the 4th of July Association recognize DL Menard as a Cajun musical artist; a goodwill ambassador of Cajun humor and culture; a man of great humility who has never forgotten his Cajun roots.
For a complete schedule of festival events, please visit www.erath4.com.

Miss Brooke Noel Laperouse of Abbeville and Mr. Blaise Matthew Touchet were united in marriage during a nuptial Mass on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville.
Father Michael Richard officiated the 6:30 p.m. ceremony.
Parents of the bride are Edmond T. Laperouse and Monique N. Laperouse. Her grandparents are Martin Noel Sr. and the late Beverly P. Noel of Abbeville, the late Kenneth Laperouse and Shirley T. Laperouse of Abbeville.
Parents of the groom are John S. Touchet III of Abbeville and Shannon M. Babin of Erath. Grandparents include Donna Daugereau and the late Shelton Touchet of Abbeville, the late Leonard Babin and Barbara D. Babin of Erath.
Readings for the ceremony were given by Jeanne Noel, godmother of the bride and David Laperouse, godfather of the bride.
Tommy Guidry, organist provided the music and Johnny Luquette was the vocalist. The processional was Prince of Denmark (trumpet voluntary) and recessional was Marcello, Psalm XIX. Music selections were Where There is Love, Cannon in D/Vangelis/Lord’s Prayer (Mallotte), A Gift of Love and Ave Maria (Schubert).
The bride selected a Galina Signature gown. The trumpet gown was beaded with a venice lace bodice, scalloped lace tank sleeves, V-neckline and an alluring button back detail with fully lined chapel train.
The two tier fingertip length veil was embellished with was beaded pearl stitched edge adorned with a pearl and Swarovski crystal scroll hair clip.
The bride carried an English style hand held bouquet with white O’hara garden roses, rununculas, vedela cream roses and white polar roses with lizianthus complimented with dusty miller seeded eucalyptus and Italian ruscus. The bouquet was held together with ivory satin along with a mother of pearl rosary belonging to her maternal grandmother and a handkerchief given by her godmother at birth.
Maid of honor was Angelle Marie Laperouse, sister of the bride. Matron of honor was Noelle H. Laperouse, sister-in-law of the bride. Bridesmaids included Skylar Noel, cousin of the bride; Jasmine Touchet, sister of the groom; Summer Babin, aunt of the groom and Shantel Boudreaux, aunt of the groom.
Each bridesmaid wore a different long, elegant dress in shades of champagne and petal pink.
The mother of the bride wore a champagne colored dress with a long charmeuse A-line skirt and a sleeveless lace bodice with a long sleeve lace jacket. It also featured pearls and rhinestone necklace around the collar.
The attendants carried hand held noesgay bouquets of porcelina spray roses against a bed of baby’s breath and misty white.
Alyssa Noel, daughter of Skylar Noel, and Rylee-Brae Fox, daughter of Duke Fox and Jasmine Touchet, served as flower girls. They wore floor length white dresses with pink underlay ball gown with a full tulle skirt and lovely lace bodice. The back of the dress featured a heart shaped cut-out with a bow. They wore natural flower crowns with a bow in the back and carried ivory flower kissing balls.
The mother of the groom wore a flare, deep silver, floor length dress with applique lace and bead work with a sweetheart neckline. It also featured capped sleeves and a sweep train.
Jalen Leblanc, friend of the groom, served as best man. Groomsmen included Cory Laperouse and Jacob Laperouse, brothers of the bride; Benjamin Leblanc, friend of the groom, Cleo Babin, uncle of the groom and Bayden Broudreaux, cousin of the groom. The ring bearer was Cruz Laperouse, son of Jacob and Noelle Laperouse.
Ushers included Todd Nunez, godfather of the groom and Mitchel Laperouse, cousin of the bride.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Magdalen Place. The decorations were done in rustic chic with grapevine wreaths with three tiered candles. An array of cream and champagne flowers alternated with lanterns complimented with greenery and babies breath.
The bride’s cake, baked by Judy Broussard, was a four tiered white cake adorned with white O’hara garden roses, Majolica sprays with lizianthus and Italian ruscus.
The groom’s cake, baked by Mandy Delahoussaye, was a chocolate fishing themed cake.
A rehearsal dinner, hosted by Buster Touchet, was held at the Old Riverfront in Abbeville.
Upon their return from a cruise to Belize, Cancun and Cosumel, the couple will reside in Abbeville.

September 22, 1915 ~ June 23, 2017

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Aline Bourque Broussard, 101, who died Friday, June 23, 2017 at Kaplan Healthcare Center. She will be laid to rest at Kaplan Cemetery with Reverend Paul Bienvenu officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Thomas Broussard, Jr., Samuel Broussard, Jr., Marcus Dubone, Kade Abshire, Mathieu Dubone, and Kameron Abshire. Serving as an honorary pallbearer will be Marvin Broussard.
She is survived by her two sons, Johnny Roy Broussard of Jackson, MS and Marvin Dale Broussard and his wife, Susan of Kentland, IN; two daughters-in-law, Kathleen McCoy Broussard of Fredericktown, MO and Mary Vidrine Broussard of Oberlin; seven grandchildren, Kristie Broussard Head and her husband, Steve of Fredericktown, MO, Melissa Broussard Kline and her husband, Todd of Fredericktown, MO, Thomas Broussard, Jr. and his wife, Karen of Jackson, MO, Machella Broussard Dubone and her husband, Mark of Moss Bluff, Ann-Jeanette Broussard Abshire and her husband, Kent of Kaplan, Samuel Broussard, Jr. of Center Point, and Johnathon Broussard and his wife, Jessica of Cleveland, MS; 16 great grandchildren, Sara, Kaitlyn, Michael, Jay, Ben, Patrick, Alaina, Reed, Addison, Marcus, Mathieu, Kade, Kameron, Sarah, Beth, and Mylie; and five great-great grandchildren, Eli, Kase, Xander, Maddox, Karter, and Kamille.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Roy Broussard; two sons, Thomas Louis Broussard, Sr. and Samuel Carol Broussard, Sr.; Parents, Joseph Bourque and the former Edith Angel David; five sisters, Laura B. Hebert, Olite B. Lee, Elise Bourque, Odile B. Trahan, and Agnes Hargrave; one brother, Louis Bourque; one granddaughter, Olivia Broussard; and one son-in-law, Charles Shivers.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 from 9:00 AM until the procession departs for the church with a rosary being prayed at 11:00 AM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Broussard family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.