Major General Glenn H. Curtis spoke to a crowded room, and thanked the veterans for their service.
Curtis set the tone of the event, opening his speech with a simple phrase. He said, “It’s a great day to be an American.”
He then encouraged the attendants to take the time to “thank veterans for putting their lives on the line for this nation.”
Curtis then spoke about the history of the Louisiana National Guard, even referencing the time when Louisiana was still considered a territory.
One of the more sobering moments of the ceremony came when Curtis began to recognize veterans from each U.S. war or conflict.
Starting with World War I, and ending at with current War on Terror, veterans throughout the room, stood up to be recognized for their service.
Curtis ended by thanking his fellow servicemen and women, and encouraging everyone to think about the good that is done by those who serve.
Each ULM veteran was honored with a special ribbon, presented by Major General Curtis. The ceremony was followed by a reception for those who were honored.
The following ULM veterans were honored during the ceremony:
Danial Allen, (Deployed) Specialist, U.S. Army
Brian Aucoin, Electrician Mate, U.S. Navy
Dr. Laurie Babin, Commander, U.S. Navy
Wendy Bailes, Specialist 4, Louisiana Army National Guard
Katherine Barber, Airman First Class, U.S. Air Force
Robert Bass, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force Reserve
Brett Bennett, First Sergeant, U.S. Army National Guard
Robert Bice, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Ralph Buie, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Ethan Burke, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Dr. Roger Carpenter, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps/U.S. Army
Kevin Carroll, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Ken Clow, Specialist 5th Class, U.S. Army
Jacob Clowers, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army Special Ops
Tim Connelly, (Deployed) First Lieutenant, U.S. Army/Aviation
Janine Corrent, Specialist, U.S. Army National Guard
Jerry Dahl, Private First Class, U.S. Army
Joseph Day, Petty Officer 3rd Class, U.S. Navy
Kitty DeGree, Women’s Reserve, U.S. Coast Guard
Christopher Elg, Special Agent U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
Jonathan Emmons, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force Reserve
Brittany Foster, Private First Class, Louisiana Army National Guard
Kilian Garvey, Petty Officer 3rd Class, U.S. Navy
Ben Gibson, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
Jerry Gilmore, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Dr. Paula Griswold, JR Co-Step, U.S. Public Health Service
Constance Guidry, Specialist E4, Louisiana Army National Guard
John Hammett, Staff Sergeant, E6 U.S. Army
Dr. Robert Hanser, E-5 Cryptologic Technician, U.S. Navy
Jonathan Hardyway, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force Reserves
Anthony Hatfield, Specialist E4, U.S. Army
Shereka Hatfield, Specialist E4, U.S. Army
Dakota Hawkins, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Patrick Hendrix, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Mary Hill, Petty Officer 1st Class, U.S. Navy
Artist Holland, Specialist 4, U.S. Army
Mary Holmes, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chuck Hughes, Specialist 4th Class, U.S. Army
Dr. Cecil Hutto, Private First Class, U.S. Army
Macky James, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
George Jenkins, Specialist E4, Army National Guard
Cheryl Jones-(Hart), Sergeant, U.S. Air Force Reserves
Blake Jordan, E-5/Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
Judith Kalinich, Aviation Storekeeper 3rd Class, U.S. Navy
Deanna Keller, AD3, U.S. Navy
Ruthoe Kyles, E4, U.S. Marine Corps
Christopher Chad Lambert, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Treina Landrum, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
Tam Le, First Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force
Michael Lee, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
George Lewis, V (Deployed), Specialist E4, Army National Guard
John Dale Loomis, Specialist, Louisiana Army National Guard
Dr. Shawn Manor, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class, U.S. Navy
Kenneth Marshal, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Jennifer Michael, Senior Airman, U.S. Air Force
Ebonee Millican, Specialist E-4, Louisiana Army National Guard
Amy Minchew, Senior Airman, U.S. Air Force
Max Minchew, Senior Airman, U.S. Air Force
Forest Mosley II, Captain, U.S. Army
Elsie Oakes, Private E2, U.S. Army
Patrick O’dell, (Deployed), First Sergeant, U.S. Army
Barry Parker, Petty Officer 2nd Class, U.S. Navy
Cody Parker, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Truong Pham, Senior Airman, U.S. Air Force
Dr. John-Nelson Pope, Lieutenant, U.S Navy Reserves-Chaplain Corps
Dr. Wendel Ray, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
Melissa Riley, Chief Petty Officer (E-7), U.S. Navy
David Roberson, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Michael Rucks, E4, U.S. Marine Corps
Dr. Denny Ryman, Commander Auxiliary, U.S Coast Guard
Casey Savana, Sergeant First Class, Louisiana Army National Guard
Amy Shoemaker, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
Robert Simms, E4, U.S. Navy
Clifford Smith, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Morgan Sneed, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
Derrick Stephens, Airman First Class, U.S. Air Force
Brent Thibodeaux, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Vernon Thompson, Tech Sergeant E6, U.S. Air Force
Louis Tolliver, Jr., Staff Sergeant/E-6, U.S. Marine Corps
Mark Triplet, 3rd Class Petty Officer, U.S. Navy
Barney Tucker, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Joseph Ussery, Specialist, Louisiana Army National Guard
Laura Washer, Specialist 4, Louisiana Army National Guard
Donald E. White, Specialist 5, U.S. Army
Charles Wright, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
More about Major General Glenn Curtis:
According to his Louisiana National Guard biography, Major General Curtis, is responsible for the deployment and coordination of programs, policies and plans affecting the more than 11,500 members of the Louisiana Army and Air National Guard.
General Curtis’ military education includes the NBC Defense Officer/NCO Course, Engineer Officer Basic Course, Defense Hazardous Materials Handling Course, Unit Movement Officer Course, Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff Officer Course, and the U.S. Army War College.
Curtis is a highly decorated officer earning many awards including, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Badge, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one Silver and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and many more.
Photo of Major General Glenn Curtis courtesy