Freedom trees honor veterans at Chennault museum

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - The Chennault Aviation and Military Museum lit its freedom trees as part of its annual Veterans Day ceremony, honoring those who served in the U.S. armed forces.

The trees represent each branch of the military, as well as prisoners of war and those missing in action.

Museum Director Nell Calloway said the ceremony offers an important opportunity to remember the men and women who served.

“It’s just an extremely important day that we remember now, especially this year, 250 years later, we are still free,” Calloway said. “It’s because of what the men and women in the military that have fought for our freedom have done for us.”

Mike Dilda, Louisiana’s assistant secretary of veterans affairs and a Desert Storm veteran, served as the keynote speaker. He said the event gave him a chance to thank fellow veterans and reflect on the people who guided him throughout his military career.

“It’s a special opportunity as a veteran myself to be able to come and talk to other veterans,” Dilda said. “I get to meet the shoulders upon the individuals who I built my career and built my time in the service, the mentors that I learned from that helped guide me through my own career.”