Louisiana plans Bicentennial event for 2012 By James Ronald Skains On April 30, 1812, Louisiana became a state in the United States only 36 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence from England. Louisiana, named after a French King when it was owned by France, became the 18th state in the then fledgling United States of America. This statehood achievement occurred two years prior to the Battle of New Orleans that permanently broke the British efforts to reclaim what had been its American Colonies. The Louisiana Bicentennial Celebration will kick-off its yearlong celebration with a gala event at the Kent House in Rapides Parish near LeCompte. "Our Louisiana Bicentennial Celebration is much different than the Louisiana Purchase event which occurred in 2003," Michael Wynne, Vice-Chairman of the Louisiana Bicentennial Commission told the Piney Woods Journal. "The 2003 event included the 13 states that were part of the Louisiana Purchase," Wynne, a member of the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Commission explained. "There was federal funding available and we had a much more robust economy in 2003." "For our Statehood Bicentennial, we have had to get much more creative with our resources because no state funds were made available for our Celebration due to the severe state budget issues," Wynne explained. "So we are incorporating our Bicentennial with numerous other existing fairs, festivals and events around the state. We are preparing a traveling exhibition with the 100 most cherished Louisiana artifacts," said Wynne, a well-known Louisiana historian. "We would like for our traveling exhibition to be included in as many fairs, festivals and special events held around the state during 2012 as possible." "We are inviting everyone who would like to get involved with the State Bicentennial yearlong event to do so," said Wynne, a close friend of former Governor Jimmie Davis in his later years. "We will have some special events planned in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge during our yearlong event as well as other locations around the state." "New Orleans was the first capitol of Louisiana,'' Wynne pointed out, "but our Bicentennial is about much more than just New Orleans and Baton Rouge. In 1912, which marked the Centennial of Statehood for Louisiana there was a series of huge Celebration events in Louisiana," Wynne, from the Pineville area noted. "President William Howard Taft made a special trip to Louisiana to commemorate the Centennial event. Louisiana Public Broadcasting will do one documentary show for the Bicentennial event," Wynne elaborated. "Part of our celebration is to educate people, especially our school age students, about the rich history and culture of Louisiana.'' "The Louisiana Department of Education is working with us in helping spread our education message to the students in Louisiana,'' Wynne commented. "This is a great opportunity for our students, to really understand our rich history and place in the history of the United States.'' "Secondly, with the approach to our Bicentennial event of incorporating the 200th celebration in as many festival, fairs and special events around the state, we are promoting tourism,'' Wynne noted. "And thirdly, we want the Bicentennial to be just one happy time for all Louisianans." "We are working with Tourist Bureau's around the state as well as Museums and the LA Museum Association to reach as many people as we can to participate in the 2012 events," Wynne said. "We have a great leader for the Bicentennial Commission in General Russell Honore,'' Wynne commented. "General Honore is traveling around the state regularly to promote the Bicentennial.'' Both the Governor of Louisiana and the Legislature appointed people to the Bicentennial Commission. Commission members, in addition to General Honore and Michael Wynne, include Louisiana Senators Mike Walsworth of West Monroe, Dan Claitor of Baton Rouge, and Karen Carter Peterson of New Orleans. Other members are Gasper "Buddy" Stall of Metairie, Windell Curole of Galliano, Roger Villere, Jr. of Metairie, Rhyn Duplichain of Opelousas, Randy Haynie of Lafayette, Sheliea McCant of Baton Rouge, and Rosemary Patterson of Bossier City. "The US Postal Service is issuing a special Louisiana Bicentennial Statehood collectible stamp,'' Wynne told the Journal. "It will feature wildlife work by noted Louisiana Artist, C. C. Lockwood.'' "The stamp will be unveiled at our Kent House kickoff on November 29th,'' Wynne added. "The postal service will issue the commemorative stamp on April 30, the day 200 years ago that Louisiana gained statehood.'' "We have a whole array of merchandise commemorating Louisiana history heritage,'' Wynne emphasized. "Once our website is fully functioning, you will be able to buy our collectible merchandise directly from the website.''\par }{\plain "We have a fabulous musical CD coming out this fall,'' Wynne exclaimed. "It will feature a number of great Louisiana entertainers who have made our Louisiana music so special.'' Mike Shepherd, the Executive Director of the LA Music Hall of Fame, a 501 C (3) entity is a member of the Bicentennial Events Committee chaired by Roger Villere, Jr. Shepherd is in the lead in getting the Louisiana Bicentennial CD produced. "I believe that our unique music and musicians here in Louisiana are perhaps our greatest natural renewable resource,'' Shepherd told the Journal. "There is no doubt that Louisiana musicians have been a major influence in all genres of music from Jazz and Blues in New Orleans with Louis Armstrong and Al Hirt, to Cajun and Zydeco, Rock-a-Billy, Rock and Roll, gospel and country music.'' "We have some very unique cuts of songs on the Bicentennial CD,'' Shepherd added. "We have an awesome cut of "You are My Sunshine" by former Governor Jimmie Davis, and a never before released track by Al Hirt.'' Other Louisiana artists on the Bicentennial CD include: Leroux, Deacon John, Vince Vance, Bobby Charles, Jay Chevalier, Sammy Kershaw, L'Angelus, Chubby Carrier, The Boogie Kings, Jo El Sonnier, Sonny Landreth, Kenny Neal, Joe Stampley, John Fred & GG Shinn, Chase Tyler, Lucinda Williams, Joe Simon, Tal Beniot, Ricky Windhorst & Christian Serpas. Each of the songs tells some story about the unique culture of Louisiana. All proceeds from the sale of the Louisiana Bicentennial CD, including the normal artist royalties, will go toward the funding of other events during the 2012 celebration. "We have a special Bicentennial two year License plate for Louisiana registered vehicles,'' Wynn pointed out. "State Senator Mike Walsworth of West Monroe was instrumental in this Bicentennial license plate becoming a reality." "The Louisiana Bicentennial Commission is a 501 C (3) non-profit organizations, therefore we are able to solicit tax deductible donations to help with the cost of our 200th year as a state,'' Wynne emphasized. "We have created one special Charter Legacy Donor level." "The Charter Legacy Donor is available for only a limited number of positions but includes several unique opportunities for special recognition for your families' contributions to Louisiana history,'' Wynne explained. "Among other forms of recognition, the Legacy Donor's family name will be inscribed on a permanent marker on the grounds of the State Capitol, and inclusion in a time capsule to buried on the State Capitol grounds," Wynne added. "Our monthly Bicentennial Commission meeting is held on the first Thursday of each month in Baton Rouge on the 5th floor of the Louisiana State Library at 1 PM,'' Wynne concluded. "The meeting is open to anyone who wants to participate in helping to plan and implement our Bicentennial activities.'' The Louisiana Statehood Bicentennial Commission can also be reached at: 225.342.7009 or by fax at 225.342.1949 or by writing to P.O. Box 44392, Baton Rouge, LA 70804. Also, Michael Wynne can be reached directly at 318.487.8805. The official website is: www.louisianabicentennial2012.com |