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Youngsters Step Up In Time Of Crisis

William Boyd

The residents of Canatella Street in Convent stand out at the edge of their driveways every day of the week to pay tribute to God and their country, all under the leadership of a 9-year old.

William Jefferson Boyd, V, is a student at Cypress Grove Montessori School in Lutcher, where his mom, Ashley Boyd, is a part of the administrative team.

When school was suspended due to COVID-19, Ashley suggested that her family try their best to maintain their daily school routine. With a flagpole in their yard, they decided to go outdoors and say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the National Anthem and pray the Our Father.

Soon neighbor Todd Bland wondered what the Boyd family was doing in the morning near the flagpole and asked if he could join them from across the street.

“William then asked if we could ask all the neighbors to join us in starting their day this way,” said Ashley. “I texted the neighbors and every morning they stand out at the edge of their driveways. Will uses a public address system microphone with the help of Jeff, his dad. Every day he thanks all the neighbors for joining in. It’s a beautiful start to our day and all the neighbors have joined each day.”

When asked how it feels to have his neighborhood come together in the mornings for that purpose, Will said, “It is nice to do something positive for the community. I love God, my country and my community. It gives us something to look forward to every morning. I want each house to take a turn leading our mornings. Today (Tuesday) I asked Emma Hotard to lead us and she did.” Emma is the 10-year old daughter of John and Libby Hotard.

The morning ritual is special to the veterans who live in the neighborhood. They say that the morning ritual reminds them of life on a military base. Jeff is a Marine veteran. Neighbor Benny Hotard is also a Marine veteran and his wife Rhonda was in the Navy. Their son Jordan is now in the Navy.

Will at first considered starting his morning tribute at 9:00 a.m. However, Rhonda begins work from home at that time, so Will adjusted his start time to 8:50.

The neighbors whistle, clap and say “thank you” every morning to Will when he is done and they stay out and talk to one another, maintaining their safe distancing.

Brian and Laurie Taylor ride by in their golf cart, with their American flag flying in the breeze and Mrs. Kat Canatella says she goes out every morning.

“This gives me something to look forward to each day and this is for such a good purpose, to honor God and our country,” said Canatella. “I am so proud of Will for doing this and of Jeff and Ashley for teaching their son what is truly important. If there is anything to learn from this coronavirus it’s that we need to return to God, our country and the importance of family.”

The neighbors have all promised to get together on one driveway whenever the threat of the virus is over.

The Boyd family is thinking about how to continue to spread patriotism and prayer throughout the community once everyone goes back to work and to school.

“That will be a challenge,” said Ashley. “Different people go to work at different times. Some actually go to work while we’re still sleeping. We may have to move it to the evenings when people return home or right before we go to bed.”

Alex Foret

Like many other youngsters in St. James Parish, fifteen-year old Lutcher High sophomore Alex Foret has been trying to find a way to help out his community during the COVID-19 fight.

Foret, an active member of the St. James Parish 4-H Program since he was in 4th grade, recently showed several hogs in the local and state livestock shows and he came up with the idea to help by offering to donate one of his hogs to the needy.

Therfore, last Saturday Foret reached out to Emery Forsythe, the current President of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) in Lutcher, and offered his fully butchered hog and asked that the meat be distributed to the needy through the SVDP food bank.

When Alex met Forsythe at SVDP, he handed over sausage, pork chops, ham, roast, boston butt, a liver and ribs. All-inall there was about 200 lbs. of pork donated.

Alex said he would like to thank AMB for sponsoring his pig and thanked SVDP for allowing him to give something back to the local community and to those who need food.

Thank you Alex and keep up the good work!

*The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry will open on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

News Examiner-Enterprise

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Lutcher, LA 70071
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