The Voice of Southwest Louisiana June 2019 Issue

editor’s
Deep in the Wetlands is
an Epic Celebration…
By Brenda Hill
I
remember how productive my dad
was after coming home from the
marsh and wetlands throughout
Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes, with
his hip waders on and his containers
filled with all sorts of plants and wildlife.
It was always an epic celebration of
joy and unity when everyone from the
community came over to help prepare and
process everything to either eat it, share it
and sell it to those near and far. And it lasted
longer than a weekend for sure!
As a child, I felt like I was part of
something really ‘BIG,’ seeing all the
people from the community using
different kinds of equipment to perform
interesting activities on unfamiliar looking
plants and fish; process turtles, skin frogs,
alligators, muskrats, boil crawfish, etc.,
networking, collaborating, conversating
and rejoicing. Oh, what pride!
Being exposed at an early age to this
type of productivity that came from the
marsh and wetlands, deep in the heart of
Southwest Louisiana, purified me to see
and understand the goodness and value in
differences and diversity for an economic
community to peacefully thrive.
Because of these early experiences
throughout my life, I anticipate with great
excitement the Epic Celebration of Seven
Days of Juneteenth Freedom Festival,
right here in Southwest Louisiana.
I am so encouraged by the City of Lake
Charles and all the sponsors/supporters
that chose to participate in this Epic
Celebration.
My desire is for all souls that
participate in this festival to become
educated, informed and empowered
about the precious value of PRIDE,
UNITY and FREEDOM!
Pick up your copy of
The Voice of SWLA while
you’re out and about.
SULPHUR
• West Cal-Cam Hospital
• Stines
• Pitt Grill
• SPAR
• Goodwill
• Hollier's
• Dairy Barn
LAKE CHARLES
• Pujo St. Cafe
• Chase (Downtown)
• Steamboat Bill's
• Civic Center
• Carnegie Library
• Luna Bar & Grill
MOSS BLUFF
• Peto's
• Market Basket
• Southern Spice
VINTON
• Post Office
• Market Basket
• Love's Truck Stop
DERIDDER
• Brookshires Bros.
• City Hall
• DeRidder Hospital
• Post Office
• Steamboat Bill's
DIANETICS
T HE MOD ERN S CIENCE OF
MENTAL H EALTH
Volume 6 • Number 11 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM June 2019 3