Veterans luncheon features U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Band, guest speaker – St. Charles Herald Guide

St. Charles Parish Veterans Luncheon: An Initiative Supporting Sustainable Community Development

Introduction and Event Overview

St. Charles Parish is scheduled to host its annual veterans luncheon, an event designed to honor local veterans and their spouses. This initiative aligns with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering community, promoting well-being, and strengthening local institutions. The complimentary event will take place on Thursday, November 6, at 11:30 a.m. at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center, with an expected attendance of approximately 400 individuals.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The luncheon serves as a practical application of global sustainability principles at a local level, with significant contributions to the following SDGs:

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The event directly promotes an inclusive and resilient community by creating a dedicated space for veterans to connect. By fostering camaraderie, the luncheon strengthens the social fabric of St. Charles Parish, which is a cornerstone of sustainable community development.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. By formally recognizing the service of veterans, the parish reinforces its commitment to the principles of peace and justice. The event, co-hosted by the parish government and the sheriff’s office, exemplifies the role of effective and inclusive local institutions in supporting their constituents.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. The luncheon addresses the social and mental well-being of veterans. Providing a platform for shared experiences and community support contributes positively to the mental health of attendees, a critical target of SDG 3.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The collaboration between the St. Charles Parish government and the Sheriff’s Office to host the event is a model of the local partnerships necessary to achieve sustainable development objectives.

Program and Community Engagement

The program is structured to honor and engage the veteran community, reflecting the event’s commitment to social inclusion.

• Guest Speaker: U.S. Army veteran and St. Charles Parish native, Rochelle Touchard.
• Musical Performance: The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Band.
• Official Remarks: Addresses by Parish President Matthew Jewell and Sheriff Greg Champagne.
• Community Tribute: A video presentation featuring service photos of parish veterans. Residents are invited to contribute by submitting photos, thereby increasing community participation and ownership of the event.

Conclusion and Historical Significance

First held in 2008, the annual luncheon demonstrates a long-term commitment by St. Charles Parish to its veteran population. A spokesperson for the parish, Francesca Blanchard, noted the event’s importance in honoring the sacrifices made by veterans and providing them with an opportunity for community and camaraderie. This sustained effort not only pays tribute to historical contributions to peace, such as the armistice ending World War I, but also actively builds a more supportive and sustainable community for the future, in line with the core tenets of the SDGs.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

1. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
• The article highlights a community event specifically designed for “St. Charles Parish veterans and their spouses.” This luncheon promotes the social inclusion of veterans, a specific demographic group, by providing a dedicated space for them. The parish spokesperson states, “This luncheon is also a great way for our veterans to come together and enjoy community and camaraderie with their neighbors who have also served,” which directly addresses the goal of fostering social inclusion.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
• The event is held at the “Edward A. Dufresne Community Center,” a public space. By hosting an inclusive event for veterans, who often include older persons, the parish is ensuring this public space is utilized to foster community cohesion and serve specific population groups. The gathering of approximately 400 attendees demonstrates the use of a community center as an accessible and inclusive public venue.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
• The article describes an event organized by local government institutions (“The parish, which hosts the event with the sheriff’s office”). This action demonstrates that these institutions are responsive to their community by honoring a specific group, the veterans. The event is inclusive (“veterans and their spouses are invited”) and participatory, as it invites residents to contribute by sending photos for a “video tribute to parish veterans.” The presence and remarks from the “Parish President Matthew Jewell and Sheriff Greg Champagne” further show the engagement of representative figures from local institutions.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resources of partnerships.
• The article explicitly mentions a public-public partnership responsible for the event: “The parish, which hosts the event with the sheriff’s office.” This collaboration between two local government bodies to serve the community is a direct example of a partnership to achieve a social goal. The fact that the event has been held since 2008 indicates it is an effective and long-standing partnership.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Indicator for Target 10.2

• Number of attendees at the social inclusion event.
• The article implies this indicator by stating, “the parish is expecting about 400 attendees.” This number serves as a quantitative measure of the event’s reach in promoting the social inclusion of veterans.

Indicator for Target 11.7

• Number of community and cultural events held in public spaces.
• The article describes one such event, the “veterans luncheon,” which has been held annually since 2008. The existence of this recurring event at a community center indicates the use of public space for inclusive community engagement.

Indicator for Target 16.7

• Level of public participation in local government-led events.
• The article implies this through two points: the expected attendance of 400 people and the call for residents to “send their service photos” for a video tribute. Both the attendance and the call for photo submissions are measures of public participation and engagement with a government-led initiative.

Indicator for Target 17.17

• Existence and longevity of partnerships between public institutions for community events.
• The article provides evidence of this indicator by stating the event is a collaboration between “the parish” and “the sheriff’s office” and that the first luncheon was held in “2008,” demonstrating a long-term, effective partnership.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: heraldguide.com